A voice for craft
The national charity for heritage craft skills
Supporting craft heritage
We are the national charity set up to celebrate, support and safeguard traditional craft skills, and to facilitate a national conversation about their importance to everyone now and in the future.
We are passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to craft skills that have developed over generations, and which we believe will be vital in helping us tackle the challenges of the future – and to be able to enjoy making as part of a fulfilled life.
Our Patron is His Majesty King Charles III.
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Heritage Crafts was set up just fifteen years ago. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, advocating at the highest levels for crafts, publishing the Red List of Endangered Crafts, and distributing 95 grants through the Endangered Crafts Fund. We have awarded 131 training bursaries, established the Heritage Crafts Awards and shone a spotlight on our world-renowned makers through 33 National Honours successes.
Many more people are now aware of traditional crafts and the objects produced by those who carry in their hands, heads, and also hearts the skills and techniques that have been passed down through the generations.
To continue this work we need your support. Please consider making a donation, however big or small, to help ensure that heritage craft skills in the UK are given the opportunity to thrive.
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#matchMAKER opportunity!
Willow weaver
Location: Suffolk
Deadline: 4 March 2026
Heritage Willow @heritagewillow are a small group of talented, traditional weavers who specialise in constructing continuous willow fences. Due to continued growth in demand for their work, they are expanding their weaving team this Spring by recruiting a willow weaver (either full time or part time).
No prior experience is necessary, as full training will be provided, though the successful candidate will need to be:
-Resilient and hard working.
-Reliable and a team player.
-Happy working outdoors in all weathers.
-Practical and good with their hands.
-Have excellent attention to detail.
-Positive, polite and professional.
Heritage Willow is based in Suffolk, with their farm HQ near Debenham. The majority of their work sites are local, between Ipswich, Norwich and the East Anglian Coast. This role would suit somebody within this area who can drive and has access to their own car. Occasionally, work is taken on across the country and there would be an expectation that you would participate in these projects which involve travel and overnight stays.
This is physically demanding but rewarding and creative work using traditional weaving techniques to build bespoke, beautiful willow fencing.
The role will be for an initial 6-month period with the potential for a long-term position thereafter.
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee pointe shoe maker
Location: Leicester
The Suffolk Pointe Shoe Company are recruiting for a trainee pointe shoe maker. You will receive full hands-on training and the chance to master a unique craft and contribute to world-class ballet pointe shoes.
What you will do:
-Learning and applying each step of the shoe-making process.
-Working at your own workstation, using traditional methods.
-Using hand tools such as hammers, scissors, brushes, and knives.
-Handling tacks, adhesives, and shoe lasts (foot forms).
-Reading and following order tickets accurately.
-Meeting quality and production targets in a fast-paced environment
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Ready to take your stained glass skills to the next level? 🎨✨
Heritage Crafts in partnership with the British Society of Master Glass Painters @bsmgp, is now accepting applications for training bursaries of up to £4,000 in our craft-specific round!
Whether you are a newcomer looking to break into the industry or an early-career maker facing financial hurdles, this bursary is designed to help you gain the skills of stained glass making, painting, and conservation.
👉 Apply now via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/stained-glass-bursary/
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 30 March.
#stainedglass #heritagecrafts #glasspainting #creativecareers #UKcrafts
Over three posts we are profiling three additional recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Kelsey Moray Luke @wearemorayluke, from South Wales, taught herself leatherworking during the pandemic, using her newfound skills of cutting, shaping, stitching and finishing to launch her own accessories brand using sustainable materials such as fish leather. Her bursary is funding training with Toby Thomas of @ottely bespoke leatherwork studio, focusing on advanced appliqué techniques using leather waste.
Kelsey’s bursary is supported by @heritagefunduk and made possible by players of the National Lottery.
Kelsey said: “I find leatherwork quite intensive and so I wish to utilise stamping as a technique that will be easier on my joints (more ergonomic). Whilst my fish leather products are amazing, I have to get outside help, so acquiring this technique will allow me to do everything in house.”
This week’s #mondaymaker is Susan Green @boundbyhand – a bookbinder.
Susan has made books for over sixteen years for individuals, venues, brands and charities all over the world. Focusing on natural materials, archival bindings and simplicity of design, she creates books which are pleasurable to use, enjoyable to own, extremely functional, and above all, designed and bound by hand to last a lifetime. Susan has also taught other learners and enjoys mentoring creatives who wish to expand their practice.
View Susan’s full profile on our maker’s directory: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/boundbyhand/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #bookbinding
Calling all aspiring riggers, fender makers, rope makers and net makers! ⚓
Are you looking to master your craft, refine your skills, or undertake specialist training, yet can’t afford to get the skills training you need? We want to hear from you.
Applications for our 2026 training bursaries supported by the International Guild of Knot Tyers are closing on Friday 30 March.
Applications can include rope and twine crafts related to either the sea and inland waterways.
Don’t miss the chance to take your craftsmanship to the next level. Funding is limited, so prepare your application early!
Linktr.ee in bio to apply or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-stories/announcements/maritime-rope-and-twine-bursary/
Over three posts we are profiling three additional recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Megan Lovell @megs.home.work, from the West Midlands, has been working in natural building and decorating since 2022, but has found it difficult to access opportunities to build her skills and portfolio whilst sustaining herself financially. Her bursary will fund training in lime and tadelakt plastering on a live project with Zachary Small from the Alliance of Green Builders.
Megan’s bursary is supported by @heritagefunduk and made possible by players of the National Lottery.
Megan said: “I’m over the moon to receive funding to hone my craft, learn to experiment with materials and explore the interplay between sculptural craft and decorative finish.”
Based in Northern Ireland and want to get into building crafts? We want to hear from you!
Applications for our 2026 training bursaries supported by @citbni1 are closing on Friday 30 March. These bursaries are targeted at new entrants and early-career craftspeople who are unable to afford to develop the craft skills they need to launch a successful career.
Building crafts in this context are crafts that relate to the built environment (including interiors). Visit our website for a non-exclusive list of examples. There is a broad range of eligible crafts, so do check out our website for the full list of examples.
Please note that the training for this bursary must be completed by 31 August 2026.
Don’t miss the chance to take your craft skills to the next level.
Linktr.ee in bio to apply or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/construction-bursaries-northern-ireland/.
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