In March 2025, I was honoured to receive a £5000 award from the Another Way Women Foundation in support of my project Felt a Fanny. This initiative brings together the art of needle felting with open conversations about wellbeing, menstrual health, and body awareness.
Since receiving the award, I have been delivering workshops in youth clubs around Brighton and Hove, engaging local teenagers in creative sessions where felting becomes both a craft and a catalyst for dialogue. The tactile, playful nature of working with wool helps break down barriers, offering a relaxed and supportive space where participants feel more comfortable discussing topics that are too often overlooked or stigmatised.
The impact has been inspiring. Young people have shared that these workshops gave them their first chance to talk openly about periods and self-care in a safe, welcoming environment. The process of making together not only encourages self-expression but also fosters connection, confidence, and well-being.
I am deeply grateful to the Another Way Women Foundation for their belief in this project and to the Brighton youth clubs who have welcomed me into their communities. Felt a Fanny demonstrates how felt making can extend beyond artistry — becoming a tool for education, empowerment, and social change.
Looking ahead, I hope to expand the reach of these workshops, continuing to explore how felt can help open conversations that matter.
…and during the workshops, I am named Steph-Fanny…
Article by Stephanie Crechriou, Region - Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk & Cambs