This weekend I and my lovely assistant Nat found ourselves at the “Can These Bones Live? Disability, wilderness, hope and God” conference at St-Martin’s-in-the-Field by Trafalgar Square. I am not known for my religious convictions but after a rather wonderful response day run by Dr Krysia Waldock (who is a thoroughly excellent human being by the way), I stumbled and tumbled my way to Can These Bones Live. I am grateful to the universe for the chain of events that led Nat and I there as it was one of the friendliest and most inclusive spaces I have inhabited for a good while. 

So why were my lovely assistant and I there, you are probably asking. Well after a bit of a discussion with the team behind the conference we decided that we would present our workshop on the Power of Tea and Biscuits. 

This workshop builds community and hope based on two simple principles. The first is that creativity and craft can spark discussion and dialogue between people. The second is that sharing food and drink - in this case Tea and Biscuits - allows people to engage with each other and form connections. 

The principles might seem slightly vague so let’s dive a bit deeper. For the workshop people were asked to write messages of hope and community on patches that could be added to bags. These messages were then embroidered to make them more permanent. We supplied patches (and thank you to my family for helping to hem them all), and embroidery equipment - for people who struggle with smaller needles more adaptive equipment and materials were supplied. The practice of creating talking pieces comes from the craftivist work of Sarah Corbett and works to create slow activism and interconnectivity. So we sewed messages of hope and community in a time when being a Neurodivergent/Disabled person feels more and more isolating and full of despair. 

You might at this point be wondering where the Tea and Biscuits come in. Well being a conference at a famous religious building we tongue in cheek took the title from post service food and drink. The power of Tea and Biscuits is not limited however to Sunday services. Sharing food and drink is a tradition around the world as old as humanity itself. In sitting down with a cup of something and something to eat the mood relaxes and discussion becomes easier and more free flowing. Sharing food is a powerful tool for bridging divides and promoting community, and biscuits are rather tasty. So that is what Nat and I did - we brought a range of teas, coffees and biscuits (including Gluten-Free, vegan and sugar free). You’d think Nat could control time with the speed and precision she made teas and coffees!            

We had 10 people partake in the workshop and as we sat crafting, eating and drinking something magical happened. We talked, we shared our fears and hopes, we talked about community, we talked about the Church, we talked about what it meant to be together. We lost track of time as we took a moment to pause and see each other as members of our tiny sewing community. Each of us brought our own ideas and visions and blended them together to sew a picture of hope. 

In a world that feels divided and angry beyond salvation, this Saturday I found myself in a bubble of hope and community that I believe will spread and grow. Maybe the world won’t become an affirming and supportive place overnight but by one Tea and Biscuit at a time we might, just might, reweave the threads of care and humanity through our communities. 

If building community is something you would like to promote and are interested in hosting the Power of Tea and Biscuits at your organisation please contact us via our contact page.