The King’s Foundation’s latest Winter Warmer event celebrates craft with ambassador Patrick Grant

Today, The King’s Foundation held a ‘Winter Warmer’ in the Orchard Room at Highgrove Gardens, hosted by King’s Foundation Ambassador, designer and BBC Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant. The Winter Warmers initiative was first introduced in 2023 to combat social isolation in the local community during the winter months and provide a warm and welcoming space to local residents including elderly and vulnerable people – all free of charge.

The events provide an opportunity to develop friendships, enjoy hot drinks and a delicious lunch, and take part in activities such as crafts, board games, and knitting. The ‘Winter Warmers’ initiative runs every winter between January and March and is in line with The King’s Foundation’s mission to build communities and help reduce the effects of social isolation. So far this year we’ve welcomed nearly 300 people to Highgrove as part of the initiative. The King’s Foundation runs similar events in the form of tea dances at Dumfries House.

Today’s Winter Warmers included an address from King’s Foundation ambassador, Patrick Grant, and an embroidery workshop led by students taking part in The King’s Foundation and CHANEL Métiers d’art Embroidery Fellowship in partnership with Le19M. During their time on the seven month course, students live and work on-site at our education facility learning the craft of couture embroidery. Attendees at the event from the local community include the Tetbury Friendship Café, Jamats Academy and Pegasus Homes.

The King’s Foundation operates specialist education workshops in traditional heritage skills such as embroidery, millinery and furniture-making on site at Highgrove.

“It has been wonderful to spend the day at Highgrove with local charities and community groups. Bringing people together to reduce loneliness is something that I think is extremely important, and as an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, I am proud to be championing this work. Crafts can play a crucial role in bringing people together, it was wonderful to involve our King’s Foundation and CHANEL students, bridging the gap between generations through creativity.”

Patrick Grant, ambassador for The King’s Foundation