Making it Mindful
Supporting Children and Families during the School Holidays
Making it Mindful is a creative organisation which provides fun filled and interactive mindfulness, movement, cooking and art workshops and classes for children, families and adults.
In 2021, Active Essex began a partnership with Making it Mindful, to provide Essex ActivAte clubs to eligible children in Saffron Walden, further widening the holiday activity and food programme offer to those families who need additional support during the school holidays.
Making it Mindful originally started facilitating the HAF programme in Waltham Abbey, followed shortly by running a club in Harlow. Over the past year, they have been able to develop and expand due to the success of the clubs, and now deliver in four locations across Essex; Harlow, Epping, Uttlesford and Braintree. The organisation has been able to extend this offer further, not only through Mental Wellbeing workshops, but also SEND, food programmes and after school programmes too.
Many families struggle to keep their children entertained during the school holidays so it’s important for the Essex ActivAte club deliverers to create a safe space where families can send their children for a fun day of activities, whilst also learning new skills. In Saffron Walden, Making it Mindful deliver mental wellbeing workshops at the United Reformed Church in the school holidays. Some parents decide to also stay for the workshop, which has created a lovely space where families are able to bond and learn new skills together.
Making it Mindful have been extremely responsive and flexible to the needs of the county, expanding and developing their work into new areas to reach new audiences. The club uses a range of mindful and creative approaches to connect and engage with children and families, in addition to introducing new foods and learning techniques in a fun and safe environment.Emma Meek, Assistant Relationship Manager for West Essex
