Each year in March, as part of King’s Global Day of Service students, staff and alumni take part in a range of volunteering activities throughout the month and across the world, celebrating King's mission and purpose to serve society.

This year King’s alumna, staff member and artist Rosanna McNamara will be hosting embroidery sessions for King’s students and staff to create keepsake patches that will be gifted to beneficiaries supported by Mermaids. Mermaids is one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families.

This event takes place on Thursday 31 March in celebration of Global Day of Service and International Transgender Day of Visibility.

How will the session run?

The session is up to two hours long. During the first hour, you will be guided on how to use embroidery threads and a hoop, getting you started with basic stitches against three patch designs that Rosanna has created especially for Mermaids.

The second part of the session is for attendees to create a patch to gift to Mermaids. You are welcome to stay for as long as you would like. For those who don’t finish their patch or want to leave earlier, attendees are asked to finish their patch at home and to drop off their finished patch to the King’s Volunteering team, who will distribute these to Mermaids. Details on where to drop patches off will be provided at the session.

The sessions are open to all abilities, and attendees do not need any prior sewing or embroidery experience to take part. Tickets include all materials needed (fabric, needle, needle threader, 5-inch embroidery hoop, embroidery thread) or, alternatively, you are welcome to bring your own embroidery materials if you have them at home.

Spaces are limited, so book your ticket now! If you are no longer able to attend, please let the team know on service@kcl.ac.uk, so that we can offer the space to those on the waiting list.

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