Rural Women Unite: Art Sessions Spark Creativity and New Friendships

Girls who Create is an art group designed for young women living in rural areas, aiming to help them connect with others in person instead of just using their phones. The group started holding sessions every two weeks at The Hide Café Bar in Bedfordshire last November. Because more and more people wanted to join, the founder, Georgia Chick, decided to add another location at Locanda Gabriella in Olney, near Milton Keynes. Georgia, who is 24 years old, explained that she started the group because she knows how important it is for people in small villages to have creative activities and a sense of community. She said, 'It's important we recognise that people in little villages still want to do creative things and we need to really start to see a build-up of these small communities. '

Georgia came back from an eight-month trip to Australia in August and noticed there were not many affordable or easy-to-access groups for women to meet new people and make art, especially outside of big towns and cities. She grew up in a small village in Bedfordshire and remembers how hard it was to meet new people and step out of her comfort zone. Georgia wanted to create a safe and welcoming space for women, especially those who might feel nervous about joining a group alone. She said, 'Every week we've had people that have come alone. That's what I try to build it for, because I would always be one of those people who wouldn't be confident enough to go to do something like this on my own. ' Georgia is happy that many people keep coming back, which shows they are enjoying the sessions.

The group offers a variety of art activities, such as watercolour painting, metal embossing, and making leather journals. Georgia provides all the art materials and gives guidance for each project. There is a small fee for some sessions, like £9 for a 'pinch pots' class in Olney. Friends Poppy Barrett and Hannah Broughton attended the group for the first time in February. Poppy, who is 26, joined as part of her personal challenge to try something new every day in 2026. Hannah, who is 28, moved from Buckingham to Flitwick in 2025 and wanted to meet new people and learn more about her local area. She said, 'It can be a little bit difficult to find groups, especially for girls, so as soon as I saw this, I thought, got to be brave - go out and try something different. ' Girls who Create uses social media to share information about their events and encourage more people to join. The group is helping young women in rural areas make friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to their communities.