Common Threads People

Common Threads is a constituted group managed by a steering group:-

Jane Hardstaff       Co-Director and Founder

Curator, artist and community arts project manager with a background in museums, Jane has led many award-winning creative projects. Passionate about combining contemporary creative practice, historical collections and community engagement, Jane is also a qualified psychotherapist with 10 years practice experience. She is currently researching for a PhD, exploring the role of museums in supporting mental health with the School of Museum Studies, Leicester University and the Holburne Museum, Bath.

Philippa Larkam    Co-Director and Creative Workshop Leader

A qualified Adult Tutor and Creative Arts workshop leader with 30 years’ experience, Philippa specializes in supporting vulnerable learners. A talented creative practitioner, she is passionate about the preservation of traditional textile skills and currently runs ‘Little Tins’, a creative business dedicated to inspiring and teaching textile crafts through course, workshops and kits. ‘Little Tins’ has been championed by Kirsty Allsopp in her campaign for traditional making. Philippa’s background is in business management.

Sally Hempsall Treasurer

Denise Clark  Volunteer Project Support

A long-standing volunteer with Common Threads, Denise worked for many years as an Assistant Occupational Therapist at the Radbourne Acute Mental Health Support Unit, Derbyshire Healthcare Trust NHS. Her expert support and exceptional sewing skills are a valued addition to the organisation.

 Bea Tailby Hardstaff Digital Consultant

Bea is a Fine Art graduate from Goldsmiths, currently studying for an MPhil in Heritage Studies at Cambridge University. Her work focuses on wellbeing and mental health advocacy. She has been involved with Common Threads for several years, contributing website and graphic design. Most recently, she published ‘Common Threads: The Resilience Quilt‘ documenting responses to the 2020 pandemic,

Image courtesy of Belper North Mill/MACE Media Archive