Here’s a fun way to mix things up for stir-crazy kids.

Benchspace, a creative hub that offers affordable access to workbenches and professional machinery to hobbyists, learners, makers and designers, has received funding for a new project designed to entertain and inspire local children.

Their project, Spoonville, provides a virtual workshop and special Crafts Kits, stimulating creativity and an interest in design.

The first Spoonville was started in Winnersh, Berkshire, England by Karen Vass who came up with the idea of making characters from wooden spoons as a way of cheering up her local community during the first lockdown.

Inspired by the idea, Spoonvilles have developed in countries across the world.

Now Benchspace Cork is one of nine community and craft ventures across the county that have been chosen as part of a Sláintecare-funded collaboration between the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and Healthy Ireland.

Benchspace’s online workshops are led by Amanda Wood of Sew Happy Creative. As part of the project, the kits are being delivered to direct provision and emergency accommodation centres and charities that work with children in Cork city.

“We want to inspire creativity in children,” said Benchspace Director David Scannell.

“Kids and teens are the next generations of makers and we are as interested in connecting with them as we are with adult makers. We’re conscious that it’s difficult at the moment for parents to keep children entertained in lockdown so we really wanted to create something special that would help keep their minds active and engaged.”

Organisations and charities working with children can apply to have their own Spoonville Craft Kits sent out to them at benchspacecork.ie before Monday, March 15th. The kits will be distributed from March 20th, with a link to a social blog post that will show them how to create their very own Spoony characters.

Children and parents who want to assemble their own Spoonville kits at home can get a list of the materials here.