75 BUSINESS ADVICE parents about crafts in schools, with over 80 percent saying arts and crafts should be part of the school curriculum as part of kids’ mental health support. When asked about other barriers to getting their kids involved in creative hobbies at home, 27 percent of parents cited time constraints and 23 percent cost, showing there are structural issues that are preventing young people from gaining the benefits crafts have to offer. Additionally, one in four (23 percent) parents cited screens as an obstacle for their kids’ taking part in arts and craft projects and an incredible 89 percent of parents said that they want to reduce their children’s screen time. Respondents were also asked about where their arts and craft inspiration came from and it seems that for Gen Z, social media is king, with YouTube and its long form content meaning 34 percent use it regularly for tutorials, hints and tips. In contrast to this, Millennials state that their main source of learning comes from parents and carers, whilst over 75s still favour books and magazines. And what hobbies are piquing the interest of the nation most? Perhaps surprisingly, pottery tops the wish list of new crafts most people would love to try – with one in five women (21 percent) keen to take a seat at the wheel. With TV shows like The Great Pottery Throw Down proving to be a smash hit, it perhaps explains why interest in more niche crafts like this, has surged. In the past 12 months, compared to the previous year, sales of pottery kits have risen by 99 percent, while online searches for ‘clay’ increased by 345 percent. It’s also a hobby loved by actor and comedian Johnny Vegas, who cites pottery as something that “saved me”. However, for those lacking the space or cash for the full pottery kit, there are several pottery-adjacent options that are also proving a huge hit. Another hobby rising in popularity is model making, which is a firm favourite with actor Danny Dyer and most popular in the Yorkshire & Humber area, whilst classic crafts like crocheting remain popular across the globe – with everyone from Katy Perry to Ryan Reynolds confessing their love for this age-old hobby. Online sales of crochet products at Hobbycraft surged by 98 percent year-on-year in 2024, with searches for ‘crochet pattern’ also up by a huge 87 percent. This research shines a light on the effect hobbies and crafts have on improving mental health, so to doubledown on its commitment to the nation’s wellbeing, Hobbycraft is launching instore Mindful Mondays – offering crafters of all abilities a free and welcoming space to come and craft, make friends and feel part of their community. This new initiative will launch in selected stores in September. To read Hobbycraft’s The Power of Making report in full, visit the website: www.hobbycraft.co.uk/power-of-making.html or more information on young people and mental health, visit the website: www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people *www.campaignforthearts.org/reports/ the-state-of-the-arts
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