After spotting a lack of opportunities for children to socialise away from screens, Karen Powell and Jessica Broadbent launched Krafty Kidz in Thurcroft, Rotherham. With support from Launchpad, the business is helping young people build confidence, creativity and friendships through hands-on activities.
Krafty Kidz opened in February 2026 and offers a range of creative workshops, after-school clubs and family activities. Based in Thurcroft, 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. They wanted to create a fun and welcoming environment where children could come to build confidence, make friendships and discover new interests through creative activities.
“We don’t want kids to feel isolated in their own homes,” said Karen.
Bringing children together through creative activities
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, giving parents the chance to relax, socialise and explore activities such as painting and crafts. They also run a summer holiday club, providing children with creative workshops while offering parents valuable free time during the school holidays.
Karen and Jessica are also delivering after-school craft clubs at Anston Park Junior School and hope to expand this offer into more schools across Rotherham.
Turning a shared idea into a community business
The idea for Krafty Kidz emerged during the summer of 2025, when a conversation between Karen and Jessica revealed they shared the same concerns about childhood isolation and the impact of technology. Realising they had a mutual passion for helping children connect and explore new hobbies, they decided to create a dedicated crafts workshop.
“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.” Karen explains.
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.
Building a business with Launchpad support
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.
“The support has been amazing. The advisors are so knowledgeable and really guided us along the right path,” Karen states.
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.
Reflecting on the support received, Karen encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs to access the programme.
“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,” said Karen.
From a simple conversation between two friends, Krafty Kidz has grown into a thriving community business that is helping children across Rotherham make friends, develop confidence and discover new hobbies, one craft project at a time. With support from Launchpad, Karen and Jessica have successfully transformed their idea into a business making a real difference in the local community.
Krafty Kidz is located at 48 Green Arbour Road, Thurcroft, Rotherham, S66 9DB and can be found on Facebook.
To find out more about Rotherham Council’s free Launchpad business support programme, visit the Launchpad support page on our website or contact the team on 01709 331111.