ONE woman is hoping to stitch together her community by hosting a monthly craft market for charity.

Nathalie Bamber, of Bicester, hopes to bring pictures, posters, cards and materials together under one roof to raise funds for The Batthula Trust.

The charity raises money for a community of poor and leper families in India and was founded by Reverend John Batthula of The Church of Immaculate Conception in Causeway.

She said: “Bicester is an up-and-coming town with a community of talent that is bursting to be seen.

“The difference with this market is that the proceeds of the tables go to a charity – The Batthula Trust.

“Father John Batthula is the inspiration behind this. Apart from him being a wonderful person, he silently works away helping the very poorest of poor through his trust.

“His kindness made me want to help him by using my love for craft, to make and sell to raise money for him.

“These families were working for 50 pence or less a day to support their parents. It is unachievable already and nobody helps them at all.”

The market will see 20 various crafters set up stalls with the proceeds all going towards the charity.

Crafters will come from around the county, including The Hummingbird Cancer and Therapy Centre in Launton and Helen and Douglas House Hospice in Magdalen Road, Oxford.

Anna Jones, from The Hummingbird Cancer Support and Therapy Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been offered a table at this event, which will enable us to promote the work Hummingbird does.

“We will have items for sale from service users and also providing demonstrations on craft as therapy.”

Ms Bamber, 49, has been doing crafts alongside her work in customer service for the past year.

She added: “Craft is also a very therapeutic way to forget issues in life and again there will be two tables each month to enjoy making something.

“There are different crafts to offer Bicester and tea and coffee available so you can really relax, learn and meet new people.

“It is something for the whole community to enjoy.”

The event will launch for the first time on Saturday, June 13, at the John Paul Centre in Causeway, Bicester, and run from 10am-2pm.

It is hoped it will be a monthly feature in the Bicester calendar.

The first market has so far been a sell out with stalls fully booked, the event has now seen crafters booking in their place for the next craft market set to be staged in July.

All money will go to towards the work of the Bicester-based charity, which supports the poor in India by providing blankets, towels, clothes, rice and money to those struggling.

* For more information see, facebook.com/events/108210642844660