This week, I chat with Debbie Judd, the inspiring founder of Wool on the Exe, a truly special yarn shop and community interest company in Exeter, UK. From a quiet life in New England to Exeter, where Debbie has created a thriving fiber arts space that goes far beyond just selling yarn, we will dive into her journey from AmeriCorps to building a sustainable social enterprise that fosters connection, reduces isolation, and even gets kids knitting!

Whether you are as passionate about knitting and wool as I am or just here for the community building, I hope you enjoy the episode!

What We Dug Into:

• Her transformative experience with AmeriCorps and asset-based community development.

• The evolution from the Blanket Box Scheme and NeighborWorks to the Knit Stop.

• The birth of Wool on the Exe and the Community Interest Company (CIC) model that funds social impact through business, easing reliance on grants and donations.

• The power of knitting and crochet to fight loneliness and build community across demographics.

• How Wool on the Exe fostered community connection during the pandemic, including the heartwarming "Christmas tree" project.

• The historical significance of fiber arts communities as spaces for activism and idea sharing.

• Exciting future plans to expand into a community "pocket park" for plant dyeing and workshops.

Innovators who Have Her Attention:

• FLOW Orchard: a communal orchard along 5km of the River Exe, running through Exeter.

Links:

Wool on the Exe: Check out their shop in Exeter for beautiful yarn and a vibrant community!

The Knit Stop: The impact arm alongside Wool on the Exe, planting knitting groups in underserved areas.

Knit for Peace: An organisation that uses knitting for charitable purposes.

Devon School for Social Entrepreneurs: Where Debbie developed the NeighborWorks business plan.

Camfed: An NGO founded in 1993 whose mission is to eradicate poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women.

Stitchlinks (Betsan Corkhill): Pioneering an exciting approach to improving health and wellbeing through the use of therapeutic creative activities, particularly knitting.

If you know someone who would be a great guest, please email me at rachel@sixdegreesstrategy.co or send me a message on LinkedIn.

Podcast recording and editing by me, Rachel Sosin.

Cover art by Danielle Brooks: https://www.daniellebrooksillustration.co.uk/

Technical support from Abhinav Wadhwa: https://www.abhinavwadhwa.in/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vocalista/strangers-in-the-night-acapella

License code: IP17ENDYVQGNUH6E