00:00 The power of laughter. For many, they don't have this. The Oddfellows group in Maidstone,
00:08 like many others across Kent, bring the community together.
00:13 Today they're making poppy wreaths, drinking tea and eating cake. But importantly, it's
00:19 a safe space within the community.
00:22 The Oddfellows have been running for more than 200 years, but in this post-pandemic
00:27 society, for many, they feel more remote.
00:31 This group bonds through art and craft.
00:34 Yeah, I'm going through a divorce at the moment, and that's quite difficult. And my friends
00:40 have just been so helpful, and everyone here has just been so lovely when I've had my odd
00:45 wobbles. And it's nice just to come and have a cuppa and a bit of cake, which solves everything,
00:50 really.
00:51 It really has meant a lot in terms of support. There's other benefits, like welfare and care,
00:55 the Citizens Advice line that we have as well has been so beneficial to me, so I'm really
01:01 grateful to have joined.
01:02 These ladies represent many across Kent, going through different transitions in life, such
01:08 as retirement, relocation or perhaps losing a loved one. Although they might all have
01:14 different backgrounds in life, they all connect by getting creative and using their imagination
01:19 to come up with new ways of making gifts and decorations.
01:23 Wow. Friendship is very, very important in this day and age. I think after COVID, a lot
01:29 of people were stuck indoors, and I think they started to realise what friends meant
01:34 to them. You don't have to craft if you don't want to. Nobody's expecting you to do anything.
01:39 The idea of coming here is to meet like-minded people, to chew the cud, as they say, over
01:45 a cup of tea. And that's really important. I think at the end of the day, you know that
01:49 you've got people there that care for you.
01:52 And they say they'll always welcome new members. Well, I had a go at making a wreath myself.
01:57 So you're going to have a go at making one of these stamens. We've pre-cut them for you.
02:03 Nice and easy.
02:04 Nice and easy. And you just got to get it to look like this. We could put mine inside
02:10 yours if it makes you feel better.
02:11 There you go. I think we'll do that. I'm just pop this here and that just goes straight
02:16 down here. And there we go.
02:19 There you are.
02:21 Well, maybe I need a little more practice. But I certainly had a laugh. And that's what
02:27 this is all about.
02:29 Gabriel Morris for KeanTV in Maidstone.
