News

Christmas crafting is about much more than making decorations. It can be a chance to slow down, explore your creativity, try something new and enjoy spending time alongside new people.

This festive season, we’re inviting autistic young people aged 12–18 to get creative with Create & Connect: Make It Christmas, a series of three FREE Christmas craft workshops at The Connect Centre in Colchester.

📅 Saturday 28th November 2026, Saturday 5th December 2026 and Saturday 12th December 2026

🕥 10:30am–12:30pm

📍 The Connect Centre, 227 Gosbecks Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9JT

💷 FREE to attend

Places are limited to 10 young people per workshop, helping keep each session small and supportive. Booking ahead is therefore essential.

Designed to be relaxed, flexible and low-pressure, the workshops give young people the freedom to choose the activities they enjoy and create at their own pace.

There’s no need for a formal autism diagnosis, no previous crafting experience is required, and you don’t have to attend every session. Just come along and Make It Christmas your way. 🎄✨

What Christmas Crafts Can I Make?

Each Saturday will include a selection of festive activities to explore.

Young people will have opportunities to:

🎄 Make their own Christmas decorations
💌 Design festive cards
❄️ Create snow globes
🌿 Make mini Christmas wreaths
🎨 Experiment with different craft materials
✨ Create something personal to take home.

Whether you’re someone who loves arts and crafts or you’ve never tried anything like this before, you’re welcome. There is no right or wrong way to create.

The team will provide the materials, guidance and encouragement, while participants will have the freedom to approach activities in whatever way feels most comfortable.

A Low-Pressure Way to Try Something New

Joining a new activity or group can sometimes feel daunting, particularly if you’re not sure what to expect.

That’s why the Create & Connect approach focuses on providing a small, welcoming and supportive environment where young people can participate at their own pace.

There’s no expectation to already be good at crafts. There’s no pressure to finish everything. And there’s no competition.

Instead, Make It Christmas is an opportunity to explore creativity, try something different and enjoy being part of a small group.

The workshops will be led by Billy, supported by Elaine and Tracy from the Autism Anglia team.

Come to One, Two or All Three Sessions

We know the run-up to Christmas can be a busy time for families, so we’ve made Create & Connect: Make It Christmas as flexible as possible.

Unlike some of our longer Create & Connect programmes, there’s no requirement to attend every workshop.

You simply need to apply for a place in advance for each workshop you’d like to attend.

That means you can choose whatever feels most manageable for you and your family.

Ready to Make It Christmas?

If you’re an autistic young person aged 12–18, or you’re supporting someone who might enjoy a relaxed morning of festive creativity, we’d love to hear from you.

Places are limited, so we recommend applying early for the workshops you’d like to attend.

👉 Visit the Create & Connect: Make It Christmas event page and apply for your FREE place today.

🎄 Make something festive. Make new connections. Make It Christmas.

Create & Connect is supported by the Boshier Grant Scheme administered by the National Autistic Society.