Five young people with autism and complex needs have been exploring heritage crafts at a three day workshop in Broadstairs.
The fully-funded sessions from Sammy’s Foundation mark the fifth year since Ramsgate youngster Sammy Alban-Stanley’s death.
Sammy was autistic and lived with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic condition that causes physical symptoms, learning difficulties and behavioural problems. For Sammy this included high risk behaviour that would result in self-harm and life risk incidents.
Sammy fell from cliffs at Ramsgate in April 2020 after climbing over the railings. Emergency services were called and he was flown to King’s College Hospital but he died of his injuries four days later. He was just 13-years-old.
During an inquest into Sammy’s death, assistant coroner Catherine Wood said there was a clear failure in what was provided by Kent County Council to Sammy’s family to help with his care. A Prevention of Future Deaths report was issued by assistant coroner Catherine Wood.
The Sammy’s Foundation was set up by his mum Patricia, an upholster, in memory of her son and his love of creative skills from upholstery to carpentry.
The aim is for young people with neurological conditions to receive high-quality professional training in valuable heritage crafts ensuring the future of the crafts and opening up possible career paths for the young people.
Last year pilot sessions were run with schools including Stone Bay School in Broadstairs and Laleham Gap in Ramsgate, both of which are specialist schools for young people with autism and other complex conditions.
Those sessions included working in crafts such as Passementerie – which is the making of tassles/braids – and French upholstery stitchwork.
The workshops this month, held at Pierremont Hall, Broadstairs, were headed up by master upholsterer Gareth Rees and concentrated on rare tick wool and ticking mattress making.
Gareth has completed work for the National Trust and English Heritage and his Henley heritage upholstery centre is considered the UK’s finest.
The young people who took part were aged from 15 to 23.
Patricia said: “ It was a resounding success. All the young people want to continue learning heritage crafts so we will support them to do so.
“The mattress cushions were made with traditional techniques, stretched over frames, using lambswool and hair and stitched with curved and long tufting needles.
“The skills are precise and difficult and they did brilliantly. The workshop was funded by Broadstairs Town Council Community Fund and was primarily held at Pierremont Hall. There was also a morning at The Bradstow Inn.
“This course was a further chapter to offer employment pathways through heritage crafts and promote excellence and equity for disabled young people across Kent.”
Sammy’s Foundation, which officially launched at Furniture Makers Hall in London on December 5 – marking what would have been Sammy’s 18th birthday – is providing practical opportunities to learn valuable rare heritage skills useful to the interior design sector which will also radically alter many young people’s life paths.
Find out more at: Sammy’s Foundation
