hands on hearts
About us
Hands on Hearts works with communities to create giant bunting chains, to celebrate our communities and the amazing things we can achieve when we support each other.
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These beautiful works of art have so far been displayed in various settings - including in schools, community centres and playgrounds, a women's hostel, at The British Library - and even a DIY shop!
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We are a grassroots, volunteer led project and deliver free workshops which are open to all, regardless of age or how confident you are at crafts (as if you don't want to sew you can draw or use glue).
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The project is being developed in the London borough of Camden, but we have ambitions to bring the project to other parts of the UK - and the world!
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Making the chains
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The chains are made up of individually made bunting flags, mainly using unwanted or old material that is given a new life by its maker.
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Makers create representations of their hands and hearts, taking the project's purpose of celebrating community strength and expressing it however they wish.
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Each bunting flag tells its own story and together, they speak of how important it is for communities to pull together.
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Who has taken part
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People from all sorts of walks of life have taken part, ranging from the very young to community elders.
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Makers so far have had all sorts of different abilities (including plenty of people who say they're not creative!).
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The project started during the 2020 lockdown in a Camden community garden and has grown slowly since then (scroll down for more on how the project came to life).
Where we are now ​
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Since 2021 we have worked with over 20 organisations and over 400 flags have been created. ​​​​
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We are now planning our first exhibition, to display all of the beautiful work created since 2020.
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We will be setting a date for the exhibition soon - if you would like to receive an invitation please email us at
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And we will add you to our mailing list.​​​​​​​​​​​
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Let's connect and fill our communities with love!
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These two enthusiastic participants on West Kentish Town estate, where the project was based for over a year. From there and supported by residents from the Gospel Oak Living room we grew the project, holding more workshops in Camden and also sending packs for workshops to be held furthe afield - including in Japan, Peru and Brazil!).
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Sharing the love
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Up until now we have run the project on a shoestring.
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Amazing levels of support has come in many different shapes and forms and without this we wouldn't still be going.
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However, in order to hold an exhibition we need to raise some funds and so have started a crowdfunder.
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Social justice - from and through our hearts...
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This project brings people joy.
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But it has a serious purpose - to bring people together and experience the power of creating something together and all that can come from that.
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People who have joined workshops tell us it made then feel happier and more connected to their communities.
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We hope visitors to the exhibition, where we will gather all of the work created as a mass visual display of collective creation and action, will experience that too.
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Support us
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If you are able to donate then any amount, no matter how small will help make our hope for an exhibition a reality.
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Your donation will be truly valued and spent well.
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Please donate through our crowdfunder.
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Other ways to support us..
If you're not able to make a donation there are plenty of other ways you can support the project.
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We are always looking for volunteers and are currently on the hunt for a space to hold an exhibition.
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So If you're interested in getting involved or can help with space then we would love to hear from you!
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How it began...
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The project began at the Calthorpe Community Garden during the Winter lockdown of 2020, as a way for people who were unable to visit in person to feel connected with each other.
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Known as ‘The Calthorpe’, the garden is a much loved hub in London's Bloomsbury district.
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Those who visit, volunteer and work there feel a very strong attachment to the place, and each other.
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Community members who, like so many, dearly missed being together worked on their flags over those tough Winter months.
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Every one was sewn with love and every one tells its own story.
Together, they made for a beautiful display of unity and strength.
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​As the world began to open back up again in the Spring of 2021, their hands and hearts were then brought together to hang in the garden.
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Neighbouring communities then began working on their own giant bunting chains.
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In the Summer of 2021, children and young people at nearby Corams Fields started work on their chain.
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And in the Autumn, children and young people at Holborn Community Association created beautiful chains of their own.
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As another wave of the pandemic hit in the Winter, women facing homelessness at The Sanctuary started work on their flags.
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The project was then put on pause for a year. ​Then, in the Spring of 2023 , a group of Afghan women were inspired by the Calthorpe's beautiful chain and decided to make one of their own.
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The women had recently arrived from Afghanistan and were being temporarily housed in local hotels.
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Supported by the women's charity Hopskotch, they worked in their flags at the Calthorpe and then continued the work in their hotels.
​The women brought the project back to life, creating an amazing chain which was proudly displayed at the British Museum in the Summer 2023.
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That Autumn, the project came back to its roots to start a new chain at the Calthorpe as a part of the River of Hope festival, bringing new hope and sewing seeds for new connections and opportunities. ​​
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Update for 2025!
Over the past two years we have been having a very busy time of it, delivering workshops in Camden and beyond.
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Most recently, we had the privilege to work with two schools on islands in the Inner Hebrides - the Isle of Eigg and the Isle of Muck. We were very kindly invited to hold our first 'wee exhibition' of the children's work in the Isle of Muck's beautiful community hall.
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Photos of our adventures there, along with pictures from all of the other workshops will be added here soon. ​​
In the meantime, if you would like to receive an invite to our exhibition
please email us at
And we will email you once we have set the date.
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Let's connect and fill our communities with love!
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