The Lily Pad Community

03/06/2026

Its Wellbeing Wednesday with West Monkton Parish Council

Find us at the brittons Asc Community Hall next to West Monkton Church of England Primary School from 1pm-3pm.

Join us for a coffee and connection or bring along your own project or we will have some of our own materials available should you wish to participate in some craft/art for wellbeing.

20/05/2026

Wellbeing Wednesday today, you can find us at Brittons Ash Community Hall 1-3 today

🤗NEW - WELLBEING WEDNESDAYS🤗 Please join us from Wednesday 6th May for our new group at the Brittons Ash Community Hall, next to West Monkton Primary School. This is a supportive, non-judgemental group for all in our community - join us for a cuppa and conversation and some gentle crafting activities with support from Kate Mahoney Kate's Creations; Frogged & Free and Sophie Knapp MODA Interviews & Media. There is no charge for either the group or refreshments, though donations are welcome.

01/05/2026

🤗NEW - WELLBEING WEDNESDAYS🤗 Please join us from Wednesday 6th May for our new group at the Brittons Ash Community Hall, next to West Monkton Primary School. This is a supportive, non-judgemental group for all in our community - join us for a cuppa and conversation and some gentle crafting activities with support from Kate Mahoney Kate's Creations; Frogged & Free and Sophie Knapp MODA Interviews & Media. There is no charge for either the group or refreshments, though donations are welcome.

monktonheathfield

01/05/2026

I am super lucky to live in a area with a fantastic parish council, I approached them with an idea and we came up with a fantastic team of people and a fantastic idea.

This starts next Wed 6th May Brittons Ash Community Hall from 1-2.30.

A Wellbeing wednesday group open to all (not just parish residents) with the options of bringing along your own art/craft project (think sewing, knitting, crochet, drawing, painting) or we will have an activity you can join in, refreshments or just a chat.

A safe, open, inclusive space to just spend some time in, and to engage in some activities if you want designed to look after your wellbeing. To be honest the end result doesnt matter, its the act of doing and taking part that counts.

Look forward to seeing you all.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cvip7XDza/

🤗NEW - WELLBEING WEDNESDAYS🤗 Please join us from Wednesday 6th May for our new group at the Brittons Ash Community Hall, next to West Monkton Primary School. This is a supportive, non-judgemental group for all in our community - join us for a cuppa and conversation and some gentle crafting activities with support from Kate Mahoney Kate's Creations; Frogged & Free and Sophie Knapp MODA Interviews & Media. There is no charge for either the group or refreshments, though donations are welcome.

16/04/2026

Around 18 months ago I had my first tattoo, a calla lily and the words 'Still I Rise', a tribute for my daughter Lily. One 12 years in the making.

My second tattoo (I found i LOVED the process of getting tattoo's) was a reminder to myself I am worth more, and that I am worth investing in and the one person I need to love me is me. Spending time and money on loving my body and investing in it became important.

Its small changes to my life that enabled me to get to a point where I felt ready to face trauma therapy. Im not 'fixed' or 'better now' more I have acceptance of my journey.

Art and craft for wellbeing was part of it for me, learning to have a few quiet hours a week to lose myself in and just enjoy doing 'something'regardless of the outcome was important.

Come join us, bring along your own project or come try something new at our group where we will have supplies. Its a chilled, no pressure to do anything space for everyone.

Details coming soon

14/04/2026

"Perfection isn't needed, it's about the process and the magic of side quests."

So finally the time has come to start setting this up, whoop whoop!
The Lily Pad Community is a new art & craft for well-being community peer led group based in the Taunton area that I am in the process of setting up. Another crazy ADHD brainchild but one that is def right for me at this time. For those of you who don't know me I am Kate, a 42 year old disabled AuDHD mum to two amazing boys.

In Nov '23 I closed the community interest company I had ran for 9 years and intended to take a short break before finding a new job. Unfortunately after a lifetime of undiagnosed Adhd, Autism and trauma I had a breakdown and hit rock bottom and took until now to invest in my health and wellbeing. Being medicated for ADHD and having private trauma therapy since Sept last year has made a huge difference and finally I am able to move forward.

One thing I have learnt over the last 2 and a half years was how art and craft were sooooooooo good for your wellbeing. I restarted cross stitching approx 4 years ago but the last 2 years have expanded my horizons and taught me so much. I always thought I wasn't creative or artistic, cross stitch to me was counting and numbers and other art and craft forms I thought I was useless at.

A huge thanks to the wonderful Jemma at ARK at Egwood for encouraging to book onto the wellbeing course which started the whole thing off. The biggest learning for me was to be honest the end result does not matter, its the process of doing it that matters abd the joy of losing yourself in the process of 'doing'.

Since closing Carry Me Kate and hitting rock bottom I totally missed the community I had and have found it so difficult as a 42 yr old AuDHD female to start again and make friends after isolating myself for the first year. Ark at Egwood was integral to me working on becoming well but I wanted something closer to home and to expand my social network again.
I tried a few groups / activities but when you are at your most vulnerable it is so hard to find your tribe of people and I often felt extremely anxious and out of place at groups. I am either too young, or too different, or too alternative and often felt judged. So I decided why not create a inclusive space so others can come and I will find my social network that way. The Lily Pad is a space for ANYONE, neurodiverent, neurotypical, male, female, non gender, everyone is welcome and no one is judged.

AlongsideThe Lily Pad community I am setting up a local art and craft business selling project bags, tote bags and other craft related items. Kate's Creations; Frogged & Free

Look out for announcements on The Lily Pad as we are collaborating with some amazing women soon to bring something new to Monkton Heathfield. More news on that soon. And coming soon will be more announcements on when and where you can find us.