Arts, Ferndown | Posted on March 12th, 2026 | return to news

Ferndown arts and crafts group celebrates two-year anniversary

Ferndown’s Creative Happiness Club hosted an anniversary party to commemorate its second year together.

By Lois Watts

A Ferndown-based social group, the Creative Happiness Club, hosted an anniversary event on Monday 9 March to commemorate its second year since launching.

The Creative Happiness Club was founded by Eleanor Green in 2024, who envisioned a safe, inviting environment where anyone could join in with arts and crafts.

Now, two years on, the group meets every Monday, usually at the Barchester Kings Park Care Home or once a month at The White Heather in Ferndown, which is where the club members came together to celebrate the anniversary.

The celebration consisted of lots of laughs and chats between friends — new and old — as well as music and dancing. Plentiful food, quiz sheets and previous crafts such as their colourful pom-pom flowers were spread out across the table.

Eleanor spoke on why she set up the group and said: “I realised that when I’m being creative, I feel happier. If I’m not creating something, I feel like I’m missing something in my life. So, I thought it would be wonderful to give other people the opportunity to experience that feeling as well.”

She added: “A lot of people say ‘I can’t do this’, but everybody has something they can do; you just have to find it. It’s lovely being able to show people how to do something different and help them discover what they’re capable of.”

The club’s previous arts and crafts projects have included making lavender bags, quilling, pin cushions, paper folding, adult colouring and decoupage.

Wilma, a member of the club, said: “We do quizzes, word searches and even sing songs sometimes. Everybody chats, says hello and we all enjoy being together.”

Not only does the group recognise the importance of creativity and using that part of your brain, but they all praise the social and community aspect of it. Some of the participants in the Creative Happiness Club jokingly call it the ‘friendship club’ instead. The guiding principles of the group are to ‘care and share’.

Another member of the group, Maureen, spoke about the joy these Monday afternoons bring her. She said: “It makes my heart smile being with these lovely ladies; it really lifts me. I have had quite a few medical problems, but when I come here, I feel about 18 instead of 73. I thank Eleanor from the bottom of my heart.”

Eleanor described how she spent a lot of time searching for the right place to host the club. She talked about how she approached libraries, community centres and church halls. It was important for the venue to be safe, welcoming and free. She was grateful to Kings Park Care Home for providing such a venue.

The Creative Happiness Club meets from 2pm–4pm every Monday at the Barchester Kings Park Care Home (apart from the second Monday of the month, when they gather at The White Heather) and encourages anyone, regardless of their abilities, to join in.