GROWING craft supplies company, Crafter’s Companion, has teamed up with a local health initiative to help County Durham residents improve their wellbeing. As part of a new collaboration with the Wellbeing for Life service, Crafter’s Companion will be running a free fiveweek course designed to help participants improve their mental wellbeing through adult colouring and other mindfulness practices. The Wellbeing for Life service, commissioned by Durham County Council, offers support and advice to people in the area to help them make healthy lifestyle changes, such as improving their mental health, stopping smoking and being more active. The ‘Colour me Calm’ course, which runs from Wednesday 14th September until Wednesday 12th October, will be held at Crafter’s Companion’s flagship store in Newton Aycliffe and will give group members the chance to relax and unwind in a social environment. Sara Davies, founder of Crafter’s Companion said, “Adult colouring is a really relaxing and enjoyable pastime so to give more people the chance to give it a go is fantastic. “Hopefully the sessions will really help the participants to get creative, have fun and discover a new hobby, as well as take advantage of some of the amazing advice that the Wellbeing for Life service can offer.” The course, which is the latest step in the craft company’s ongoing community engagement programme, will be delivered by Wellbeing for Life health trainer, Andy Stewart and members of Crafter’s Companion’s in-store team. “The idea behind the Wellbeing for Life initiative is to help participants recognise the issues that are affecting their wellbeing and make positive changes,” said Andy. “Adult colouring can be really therapeutic, and combined with the right advice and lifestyle changes, hobbies such as this can really help our community to become healthier and happier.” Each session will encourage group members to combine the five steps to wellbeing, which include connecting, being active, taking notice, learning and giving, with the therapeutic practice of adult colouring. The course coincides with the launch of Crafter’s Companion’s new adult colouring range, Spectrum Noir Colorista, which has been specifically designed to cater for the adult colourer. The new range will be used during all of the sessions to give participants some hands on experience of the latest colouring products. Crafter’s Companion specialises in manufacturing, distributing and retailing crafting tools and products, which are currently sold online via its website, on TV shopping channels across the world, by thousands of independent retailers and in its own outlets. The ‘Colour me Calm’ sessions will take place every Wednesday between 2pm and 3pm. For more information about Crafter’s Companion, visit www.crafterscompanion. co.uk. For more information about the Wellbeing for Life service or to book a place on the ‘Colour Me Calm course’, visit www. wellbeingforlife.net or contact the service on 0800 876 6887.