To promote physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing using traditional crafts to restore life-giving connections to body, soul, nature, and society
Many of the ills we suffer as a society are either caused, or at any rate exacerbated, by a lack of any deep context to frame, ground, and give meaning to our lives.
Formerly, such a context was provided by a life lived close to the rhythms of the natural world, a thriving sense of community, immersion in practical work carried out with one’s hands, and a spiritual dimension to life. All of this provided necessary depth, like the depth of earth into which a tree may sink its roots.
By contrast our lives today have become overly abstract, lack context, and no longer offer the opportunities to find fulfillment or discover meaning. In other words, lacking depth.
Will Beharrell - the founder of Fathom - is a very special person. I have worked with him very closely in Afghanistan and amongst very vulnerable and challenged communities in London. He has a unique combination of wisdom, humility, and gentle humour - as well as a deep academic education. His fundamental insight -that living and creating in a craft community can be deeply helpful for mind and soul - seems entirely right. It’s often not an easy message to convey today. But each of us that has been lucky enough to find such moments of meaning can attest to its power. We are very lucky to have Will and this project.
We aim to create opportunities for personal and social regeneration through a holistic, community-based approach, called called Fathoming.
We believe Fathoming holds the key to progress in areas where we have hitherto struggled; and brings richness into the lives of children of all ages, patients of many kinds, and those simply needing refreshment because of the burdens of their office.