An appeal is being made to knitting and crocheting enthusiasts to make items for Brightlingsea WinterFest’s sensory boxes, which will be at all the festival’s events.
The aim of the boxes is to help anyone with sensory issues to enjoy the activities and attractions at this year’s packed programme of music, arts, spoken word and wellbeing activities during WinterFest. Extra ‘fidget toys’ are needed to fill the boxes so that people who need them can use them during WinterFest events to help them feel more relaxed.
The idea for the Sensory Boxes came from WinterFest crew member Nicola Stephens, a physiotherapist who runs the Brightlingsea Physiotherapy practice in the town. She has championed the themes of inclusivity and accessibility for WinterFest to great effect and is keen to expand the Sensory Box project this year.
Nicola said: “For WinterFest 2025 we are hoping to provide more sensory resources at our events to help people with autism, dementia and any sensory processing needs. Last year we gave away more than 200 fidget toys and this year we aim to beat that. We are making an appeal for people to create twiddlemuffs and sensory mobius rings for the sensory boxes.”
Free patterns can be found on the internet and completed fidget toys can be left for Nicola at Brightlingsea Physiotherapy at the Lifecare Mobility Shop, 47, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea or at Scarlett’s Wool Shop in Brightlingsea High Street.
For more information about the 40-plus Brightlingsea WinterFest and Brightlingsea Literary Festival events taking place across Brightlingsea throughout February and into early March, visit the Brightlingsea WinterFest website.
