It’s called ‘Time Out for Skills,’ and it happens every fourth Friday of the Month.

The premise is simple.

Invite locals and residents of nearby nursing homes to gather together for a morning of craft and creation.

Making it happen every month, however, takes lots of time, organisation and dedication on the part of the volunteers from the Tea Gardens Baptist Church.

“We try with all the crafts to make them as easy as possible,” Ruth Calcutt told News Of The Area.

“We have a team of people from the Church, they help people as some are visually impaired and others who just can’t manage it, but we make sure everyone goes home with something,” Ruth said.

Last Friday was a special end of the year party with residents from Peter Sinclair Gardens driven to the Church to make a Christmas gift followed by lunch.

Craft of the day was a Christmas bell cleverly contrived using an upside down ceramic pot plant holder, wooden handle, paper, paint and glue.

“People pay a small amount just to cover the costs,” said volunteer Carolyn Bye.

“We’ve been going now for over 14 years.”

“Originally it was for the community, but because we now cater for the aged care facilities, we keep it simple,” said Carolyn.

The craft sessions will now stop over the holiday period, but ‘Time Out For Skills’ will return in 2017 on the fourth Friday in February, for a day of making photo frames from buttons and shells.

For more details contact Ruth on 4997 9726 or Carolyn on 4997 3026.

By Margie TIERNEY