clervaux fold
Welcome to Clervaux Fold
Clervaux Fold is a dedicated family centre working with families and veterans from Catterick Garrison and the local community.
Made up of workshops for crafts and activities and a communal lounge area for socialising, the Fold also offers places for children to play. Alongside practical workshops, participants have access to a kitchen and dining room, planted gardens in the grounds and the Clervaux Castle play area.
Military Families at Clervaux
The military families who come to the Fold engage in a wide variety of activities, from green-wood work, to animal husbandry and arts and crafts.
The families may have additional cares such as the strain of army life, the dislocation of postings, the worry of separation especially in times of conflict. The Fold addresses these cares implicitly rather than explicitly. We have found that the beautiful surroundings of Clervaux do much of our work for us.
Children can run freely and safely in fields with no fear from traffic, while parents can relax, often wanting to do little else but sit and chat or participate in a range of activities. Individual requests (some of the families have children with special educational needs) are addressed professionally by the staff.
Since 2012 we have been working with mixed groups of military and civilian families, which allows for up to thirty adults and children to visit Clervaux one Saturday per month.
A typical family day
The day begins at 10am with coffee and biscuits. Our farmer then takes the whole group on his round of feeding the animals. Collecting the warm, freshly laid eggs is a firm favourite for many of the children. This leaves enough time to begin a craft session afterwards.
Pottery is always popular as well as green woodwork, with textiles providing a warm, homely space. Several times a year, guest craft workers demonstrate their expertise in willow weaving, mosaics, recycled jewellery and lino printing. Lunch is served at 12.30 and is cooked with biodynamic produce from our own garden as far as possible. There is then time to continue the craft session after lunch before the day comes to a close at 3pm.
Other courses run from 10am to 3pm during the week with a light lunch included – please ask for more details.
My eldest son was able to bond with his dad and carry out woodwork. Together they built a stool, of which my son was very proud…Attending the Fold has built our children’s confidence so much.
– Participant on the benefits of family craft activities at Clervaux Fold
News from Clervaux Fold
Resilience Through Crafts at Clervaux Fold
Moto Foundation Donation
Resilience Through Craft: A new course at the Fold
Get in touch about joining us
Since 2012 we have been working with mixed groups of military and civilian families, which allows for up to thirty adults and children to visit Clervaux one Saturday per month.
To find out more about Clervaux Fold, please contact Lone Helliwell, Clervaux Fold Manager on 07812 234 372 | 01325 729 860 ext 3004 or at lone.helliwell@clervaux.org.uk
Thanks to our funders
Thank you to all our funders who have made the journey possible so far.
The Fold was funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds
with additional grants from:
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity • Army Central Fund • The Albert Hunt Trust • Veterans’ Foundation • Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust • Two Ridings Community Foundation • BFBS Big Salute • Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust • North Yorkshire County Council • YORHub 4 Good Fund • Worshipful Company of Turners The George Cadbury Trust • Bettys and Taylors Group • The National Lottery Warburtons • Richmond Rotary Club • Persimmon Community Champions The Brother Jonathan Trust for Children’s Holidays • The Cummins Foundation