News: Krafty Kidz get support in early years
Krafty Kidz has launched in Rotherham, with support from Launchpad, helping young people build confidence, creativity and friendships through hands-on activities.
After spotting a lack of opportunities for children to socialise away from screens, Karen Powell and Jessica Broadbent established the enterprise in Thurcroft in February 2026 offering a range of creative workshops, after-school clubs and family activities. The business encourages children to develop new skills, make friends and explore their creativity in a welcoming environment.
As parents of ten-year-old daughters, Karen and Jess became increasingly aware of how much time young people spend alone at home and rely on technology for entertainment.
Krafty Kidz offers a wide range of creative activities, including slime making, pottery painting, wooden crafts and other engaging projects.
The business runs dedicated sessions for home-educated children, after-school clubs and weekend workshops, helping young people develop friendships and confidence through creative play. It has also become a popular venue for children’s parties, offering a range of craft-based party activities.
Recognising that creativity isn’t just for children, Krafty Kidz also offers adults-only craft evenings.
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Karen and Jessica run Krafty Kidz alongside their full-time careers. Karen owns a beauty salon and balloon business, while Jessica supports children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Together, they combined their professional experience and passion for supporting children to create a business centred on creativity, learning and social interaction.
Karen Powell, co-founder of Krafty Kidz, said: "We wanted to bring groups of children together to socialise and learn new skills. It is a great way for them to get out of the house, interact and make new friends."
As they prepared to launch Krafty Kidz, Karen searched online for support and discovered Rotherham Council’s fully funded Launchpad start-up programme. She joined Launchpad in January 2026 and began working with one of the dedicated business advisors.
Through Launchpad, they received business advice on costs, pricing and customer targeting. They also accessed financial assistance to support their marketing activity, helping them to distribute leaflets and advertise in local publications to raise awareness within the local community.
Karen added: “The support has been amazing. The advisors are so knowledgeable and really guided us along the right path.
“Their support has been immense. I would recommend anyone to get in touch. There are so many ways they can help with starting a new business."
Krafty Kidz Facebook page
Rotherham Launchpad website
Images: RiDO
After spotting a lack of opportunities for children to socialise away from screens, Karen Powell and Jessica Broadbent established the enterprise in Thurcroft in February 2026 offering a range of creative workshops, after-school clubs and family activities. The business encourages children to develop new skills, make friends and explore their creativity in a welcoming environment.
As parents of ten-year-old daughters, Karen and Jess became increasingly aware of how much time young people spend alone at home and rely on technology for entertainment.
Krafty Kidz offers a wide range of creative activities, including slime making, pottery painting, wooden crafts and other engaging projects.
The business runs dedicated sessions for home-educated children, after-school clubs and weekend workshops, helping young people develop friendships and confidence through creative play. It has also become a popular venue for children’s parties, offering a range of craft-based party activities.
Recognising that creativity isn’t just for children, Krafty Kidz also offers adults-only craft evenings.
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Karen and Jessica run Krafty Kidz alongside their full-time careers. Karen owns a beauty salon and balloon business, while Jessica supports children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Together, they combined their professional experience and passion for supporting children to create a business centred on creativity, learning and social interaction.
Karen Powell, co-founder of Krafty Kidz, said: "We wanted to bring groups of children together to socialise and learn new skills. It is a great way for them to get out of the house, interact and make new friends."
As they prepared to launch Krafty Kidz, Karen searched online for support and discovered Rotherham Council’s fully funded Launchpad start-up programme. She joined Launchpad in January 2026 and began working with one of the dedicated business advisors.
Through Launchpad, they received business advice on costs, pricing and customer targeting. They also accessed financial assistance to support their marketing activity, helping them to distribute leaflets and advertise in local publications to raise awareness within the local community.
Karen added: “The support has been amazing. The advisors are so knowledgeable and really guided us along the right path.
“Their support has been immense. I would recommend anyone to get in touch. There are so many ways they can help with starting a new business."
Krafty Kidz Facebook page
Rotherham Launchpad website
Images: RiDO
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