Our
Story
Sarah Clifford CanBead Founder
At 28 years old, our founder, Sarah Clifford, was gifted jewellery-making supplies by a friend while she was in treatment for melanoma. Throughout her treatment, Sarah crafted one necklace daily. These necklaces were auctioned, with the proceeds supporting The Cancer Society and contributing to the launch of CanBead (The CanInspire Charitable Trust). Great ideas can blossom from humble beginnings.
Sweet Louise Participant
“I absolutely love this experience. Being able to watch my mum enjoying herself again, with a new group of friends, has been such a privilege! I can not thank you enough for the memories you've made today, thank you!!!”
Step Ahead Participant
“Such a lovely environment. The ladies taking the workshop are so welcoming, friendly and understanding. This was a great way to re-enter society in a group setting. I felt very comfortable doing that today, and it allowed me to find a purpose again.” -
Ranui House Participant
“What a gob-smacking experience. So much is not in control when you are sick, but being able to let the creative juices flow is liberating. Thank you, ladies"
Our Impact This Year
Making a Difference Together
This year, we conducted 161 beading creative therapy workshops across our six regions in New Zealand, engaging an impressive 1,448 participants. We truly make an impact for the charities we partner with. Our workshops provide participants with a fun and creative outlet, allowing them to form new friendships and explore new activities to take home. The enjoyment continues beyond the workshop, we supply kit bags, enabling them to maintain the therapeutic benefits and freedom that beading offers.
Hey Nelson area! 👋 We're coming your way in 2026!
We've got some pretty awesome news to share – CanBead is expanding to the Nelson/Tasan region next year, and we honestly can't wait!
For those who haven't met us yet, we're CanBead, and we're all about bringing creative beading workshops and programs to communities. We've been lucky enough to work with folks across several regions already, and now we're excited to add Nelson/Tasan to our growing family.
Why are we so pumped about this? Well, we know there are amazing people in Nelson/Tasan who might not have had easy access to our programs before. We're all about reaching those harder-to-reach places because everyone deserves the chance to get creative, connect with others, and maybe discover something new about themselves through beading.
We're still working out all the details for 2026, but we wanted to give you a heads-up early. Keep an eye out for more info as we get closer – we'll be sharing updates about workshops, locations, and how you can get involved.
Thanks for being such an incredible community. We're genuinely excited to become part of what makes the Nelson region special.
Catch you soon! ✨
The CanBead Team
"When you lose yourself in creating, you often find yourself in the process."
