Craft Fair with a cause returns to Stockport this November

Arts and mental health charity Arc and Hat Works Museum are running a festive craft fair with a powerful purpose, offering visitors the chance to shop for handmade gifts while supporting a vital local charitable cause.

Handmade at Hat Works will be open on Saturday 15 November from 10am to 3pm and is free to attend.

This is no ordinary makers market. Every purchase from Handmade at Hat Works helps fund Arc’s life-changing work supporting the mental health and wellbeing of hundreds of Stockport residents each year. From children and young people to adults facing isolation or barriers to employment, Arc’s creative programmes offer a pathway to confidence, connection and resilience.

The event builds on the success of Arc’s summer market, which welcomed over 300 visitors to the iconic Hat Works venue. The festive edition promises even more stalls, seasonal treats, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the first 50 guests will receive a free mince pie.

At the heart of the event are Arc’s Creative Enterprise participants: local adults who have experienced mental health challenges and are now developing their creative skills with Arc’s support. Some will be selling their work for the first time, showcasing handmade items including textiles, prints, jewellery, 3D-printed toys and even foil sculptures. These makers have been on a journey of growth, and the opportunity to actually present their work to the public is a major milestone in their independence.  One participant said, “This has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in years – it really helped my mental health doing this. Focusing and building my work really helped keep me going and gave me confidence that I can do this!” 

Arc’s Commercial and Operations Manager, Harriet Wilson, said,

“This is so much more than a craft fair. It’s a celebration of creativity, community and recovery. Every purchase helps someone take a step toward a brighter future. Come and shop handmade and contribute to a great cause at the same time.”

Alongside Arc’s makers, visitors can browse stalls from other talented local creatives including jeweller Zoe from Honey Bee Design, ceramicist Sharon Giles, and Hat Works Museum’s speciality book stall.

Arc’s ethical café will be open, staffed by volunteers gaining hospitality skills through inclusive training. All proceeds from the café and market go back into Arc’s charitable programmes.

Arc is one of the UK’s longest-standing arts and mental health charities, celebrating 30 years of impact in 2025. The organisation has helped thousands of people across Greater Manchester to improve their wellbeing through creative engagement.