Designing from the heart

Creating for a good cause has always struck a chord with our customers because you’re all such a charitable bunch. Sally of little Betty designs won our heart shaped stickers design contest, where she got to pick a charity to donate printed.com points to, so we had a chat with her and Rebecca Coughlan from The Horsfall, the programme that received her kind donation, when they met up to chat creativity and charity.

Sally: “I set up little Betty design in 2007 to sell my hand screen-printed cards and paintings that I’d started to design. I’d been working as a graphic designer, but after more than five years out to be a full time mum, couldn’t see myself ever going back to agency work. I now freelance as a graphic designer/illustrator and fit it around my part-time job working for a fashion business and a hectic family life!

“I saw the sticker competition just as the deadline was approaching and had been working on some bee doodles at the time. I just thought the bee and heart worked so well together and loved the idea of nominating a charity prize winner.”

Rebecca: “Following the tragic Manchester arena incident we have been working hard to support young people who were affected. So for Sally to choose us as her charity and create such a beautiful Manchester Bee design, which is not only the Manchester emblem but became the symbol of solidarity after the bombing, was a real privilege. With so many Manchester bees drawn, painted, and designed recently, for Sally to create such an original, delicate and beautiful bee design was amazing and we love it!”

Sally: “The Manchester bee is such a significant symbol for the city and after the atrocious bombing it became a symbol for how people came together and supported each other. There were bees literally buzzing all over Manchester! I guess it was just something that was at the front of my mind at the time.

“I became aware of The Horsfall on Twitter some time ago and they just struck a chord with me. I’ve lived with the effects of mental illness and I understand how difficult it can make life. Using creativity as a form of therapy to improve mental health – especially for young people in the city – is such a fabulous resource and I’m so chuffed to be able to help the charity in this very small way.”

Sally with her winning design on our new type of heart shaped stickers!

Rebecca: “Our charity 42nd Street in Manchester has been supporting young people aged 11-25 years with their emotional wellbeing and mental health for over 35 years. The Horsfall is 42nd Street’s new venue and creative programme, leading the way in developing creative approaches to improving mental health and wellbeing and the opening programme of projects and events included a theatre show, wellbeing café sessions, animation classes, sound projects and a young person led Ted Talk style series of events.

“42nd Street took inspiration for The Horsfall from the Ancoats Art Museum; a unique social and artistic experiment established in Ancoats, Manchester at the end of the 19th Century and sensitively restored the Victorian shop that had lain derelict for years into a truly useful and beautiful space. The Horsfall is the only dedicated arts and mental health space in the UK, and an example of how a need to find more ways to reach more young people asking for help with their mental health can lead to imaginative solutions.

“We will be using the points to order some signs and merchandise to help us fundraise for our creative programme next year. Thank you so much!”

Registered charities receive 15% discount on all print orders for life, meaning your funds go where you need them most! For every £1 you spend with printed.com, you are given points thanks to our unique reward programme. These can be exchanged, but if you don’t use them, then you can donate them to a charity customer instead to support a cause. People do amazing things to raise money for charity, and we think donating your printed.com points will help that little bit more.

Find out more here: www.printed.com/charity

Get involved with The Horsfall here: http://42ndstreet.org.uk/horsfall/

Discover more of Sally’s work: http://www.little-betty.co.uk/