29 new training bursaries awarded

Heritage Crafts is delighted to award 29 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, City & Guilds Foundation, William Grant Foundation, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Army Benevolent Fund, Royal British Legion, Ashley Family Foundation, Newby Trust, Sussex Heritage Trust, Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement, Soane Britain, Kendrick Hobbs and Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.

These follow 8 bursaries awarded earlier this year supported by The Royal Mint, the Costume Society, the Golsoncott Foundation and Jennifer Chen, providing up to £4,000 to support heritage crafts trainees whose talent might otherwise be lost to the sector were it not for vital additional hands-on training at the start of their career.

• Ayham Aldoghim, from Bristol, is originally from Syria and has been living in the UK since 2021. He will travel the UK to learn from experts in lime plastering, organised by Bristol Heritage Skills with the support of SPAB. Ayham wishes to develop his skills in order to help preserve his newly-adopted British heritage.
  Ayham’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Saul Beardsley, from Northumberland, is 15 years old and has been clamouring to train since he had his first try at an anvil aged 8 under the guidance of a local artist-blacksmith. He will train one-to-one under Alex Sowdon at Hammer and Hound Forge, and would like to go on to attain a blacksmithing qualification or apprenticeship.
  Saul’s bursary is funded by the Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement and Kendrick Hobbs.
• Amanda Boachie, from London, runs Forty-Four Words, Britain’s first Black-owned experimental publisher specialising in handmade-to-order books. She will take four bookbinding courses at CityLit and undertake one-to-one training with Piotr Jarosz. Amanda aspires to become a role model and mentor for Black women looking to explore bookbinding, helping to pave the way for more diverse participation in the craft industry.
  Amanda’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation.
• Chanelle Brown, from East London, has struggled to pursue her craft of woodturning while supporting herself financially. She will train one-to-one with Mick Hanbury at Hope Woodturning, progressing to sculptural forms and advanced finishing techniques. As well as earning a living as a maker, Chanelle would like to share woodturning with young-people in London who might not otherwise get the opportunity.
  Chanelle’s bursary is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.
• Sacha Chandisingh, from Brighton, showed potential as a ballet dancer as a child but was unable to pursue her dream, so instead she channelled her interest into tutu making. She will train one-to-one with Federica Romano and take a short course at Hand & Lock. Sacha plans to set up her own business at a tutu maker in both the ‘pancake’ and Romantic styles.
  Sacha’s bursary is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.
• Isabella Cobby, from West Sussex, has been a full-time milliner since 2022, and now wishes to transition her skills to the endangered craft of production men’s hat making. She will train one-to-one in blocked hat making with Sue Crowle at the Welsh National Opera, and in sectional patterned caps with Tyler Miller. Isabella intends to share her newly-acquired expertise with others.
  Isabella’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation.
• Leon Fairbrother, from Leicestershire, left the Army in 2023 having served 24 years in the Coldstream Guards, where he was deployed operationally to Iraq and Afghanistan. He will spend time working alongside a local skilled dry stone waller and achieve the Dry Stone Walling Association Level 3 certification.  His goal is to become a master craftsman and instructor.
  Leon’s bursary is funded by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Elena Fleury-Rojo, from Essex, is a glass artist who wishes to develop her skills in the specialist field of scientific glassblowing.  She will train with Brian Jones at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. She plans to raise awareness of the craft of scientific glassblowing through her artwork, as well as offer other services such as making and repairing scientific glass apparatus.
  Elena’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation.
• Roisin Gearty, from London, found that pursuing training in jewellery making and silversmithing to be expensive and inaccessible, despite wanting to since childhood. She will undertake a year of one-to-one training with master craftspeople Paul and Tomiko Ravn, with money left over to cover some tools and materials. She intends to start up a small business making jewellery and hair pieces of her own design.
  Roisin’s bursary is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.
• Jo Hills, from Berwickshire, started re-training as a milliner during the Covid lockdown, and now combines a small income from sales of hats with a part-time seasonal job with the local museum.  She will train with Sally Ann Provan in Edinburgh, and Jenny Roberts in Harrogate, to improve her core and advanced techniques. Jo hopes to be able to pass on her skills through training others.
  Jo’s bursary is funded by the William Grant Foundation.
• Kate Holmes, from London, was trained as a signals analyst as part of the Intelligence Corps, where she enjoyed nearly ten years of service. She has trained as a stonemason, but has more recently turned to decorative stone carving.  She will complete her Historic Carving degree at City & Guilds of London Art School, carving a life-size female form for her final project.
  Kate’s bursary is funded by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Nicola James, from Birmingham, began hobbying with mild steel and copper scraps, incorporating them into her first jewellery designs. She will attend courses at the School of Master Jewellers, Stirchley School of Jewellery, and the British Academy of Jewellery. Nicola has aspirations to run a small business and eventually hold creative workshops.
  Nicola’s bursary is funded by the Newby Trust.
• Oliver Kinge, from Wiltshire, has a learning style that has not been served well by the mainstream education system. He also has a passion for blacksmithing that points to an exciting future. He will train one-to-one with blacksmith Melissa Cole. Oliver plans to set up his own business, selling items at local farm shops, farmers markets and events throughout the year.
  Oliver’s bursary is funded by Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.
• Joseph Lancaster, from East Sussex, has struggled to fund development courses in lime plastering whilst working on an apprentice-level wage. He will train in lime plastering at Ty-Mawr Lime and Carrington Lime. Joseph’s wish is to change the direction of his business to one that specialises in conservation and heritage techniques with lime.
  Joseph’s bursary is funded by the Sussex Heritage Trust.
• Ziyaad Lorgat, from Leicester, has begun to specialise in the repair and restoration of Islamic holy texts after being encouraged by members of his faith community. He will train in bookbinding with 2023 Heritage Crafts Trainer of the Year Tom McEwan and others. Ziyaad aims to become a skilled master bookbinder and eventually host bookbinding classes for others.
  Ziyaad’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Hannah Macfarlane, from the Scottish Highlands, has various RAF postings before transferring to the Royal Corps of Army Music as part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland band. She will build on her new kiltmaking practice with dedicated one-to-one training with a master kiltmaker in her area. Hannah is keen to help develop a heritage crafts hub in her rural community to increase tourism.
  Hannah’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Exauce Mondo, from London, is currently working as a costume trainee at The Royal Exchange Theatre, where she receives a standard trainee wage to cover her living expenses, bills and childcare. She will train in fashion pattern cutting and garment construction with Susan Backhouse. Exauce plans to progress her career to Costume Assistant maker for performances, and work freelance in the future.
  Exauce’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Alison Pascoe, from Belfast, is a self-employed macramé craftsperson who wishes to branch out into the related fields of passementerie and braiding in order to make her business more sustainable. She will study one-to-one with Elizabeth Ashdown, Julie Hedges and Jacqui Carey. She plans to develop a body of work to submit for exhibitions, as well as seeking potential clients in historic interior conservation.
  Alison’s bursary is funded by the Art Scholars’ Company.
• Katie Raithby-Veall, from Lincolnshire, served in the RAF a personnel officer, since when she has been pursuing the craft of punch needle. She will undertake a punch needle certification course to enhance and deepen her skills, as well as learn the craft of spinning so that she can create yarn to her own specifications. She intends to adapt her work into furniture panels and soft furnishings.
  Katie’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Cai Gwilym Roberts, from Powys, fell in love with the craft of blacksmithing while studying Engineering and Welding courses at Level 1 and 2. He will train one-to-one with master blacksmith Spike Blackhurst, while studying Level 3 Art Foundation in order to gain the necessary UCAS points to attain a place at Hereford College of Arts.
  Cai’s bursary is funded by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Kate Robertson, from the Scottish Borders, has already started creating a kiltmaking and accessories business, and wishes to pursue her dream of learning to make sporrans. She will train on-to-one with Nigel Armitage in Staffordshire.  Kate is passionate about passing on craft skills to future generations, and would love to be in a position in the future to offer employment to others.
  Kate’s bursary is funded by the William Grant Foundation.
• Celina Sawicka, from Leicestershire, set up a small pottery studio in her mother’s shed, originally as a safe space to find some peace, and has since discovered her talent.  She will attend classes at Coombe Farm Studios and Whichford Pottery.  Celina’s short-term plan is to set up her own business, before gaining enough experience to share her skills with others.
  Celina’s bursary is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.
• Jamie Smith, from Argyll and Bute, has worked on traditional sailing vessels over the last four years, where he has picked up traditional skills of rope work, maintenance, sailing, and some woodwork. He will attend the International Boatbuilding Training College in Lowestoft. He plans to work in Scotland and has industry contacts with employers who are looking for qualified boatbuilders.
  Jamie’s bursary is funded by the William Grant Foundation.
• Lily Thomas, from Powys, has found living in rural Wales has impacted her access to further training opportunities in jewellery making and silversmithing. She will train on a one-to-one basis with renowned silversmith Rauni Higson. As well as establishing a successful business, Lily hopes to one day offer beginner workshops within her local community.
  Lily’s bursary is funded by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Marcia Vidal, from London, is a jewellery maker who wishes to develop her silversmithing practice in order to produce larger sculptural forms. She will train one-to-one with Russell Lownsbrough and Charlotte Desyllas, to be able to create highly sculptural pieces of wearable art, where the sculpted lines of the cast gold meld with the carved gemstones.
  Marcia’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Elliot Walker, from West Midlands, is a glass blower who is attempting to incorporate the making of mouth-blown flat glass in his practice, an extinct craft in the UK. He will train with Fremont Antique Glass and Monarch Glass Studio in the United States to master the technique, before coming back to offer small batches of artisan glass to stained glass craftspeople and conservators.
  Elliot’s bursary is funded by Soane Britain.
• Leo White, from Oxfordshire, served in the 6th Regiment Army Air Corps reserves and achieved the rank of Lance Corporal, serving on two campaigns in Afghanistan. He will study at Rycotewood Furniture in Oxford, where he will incorporate straw marquetry into his furniture, a technique he learned from retained Rolls Royce marquetry specialist Audrey Fasquelle. He hopes to eventually teach those skills to others.
  Leo’s bursary is funded by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Tim Wills, from Devon, served for five years in the police before realising that his interest lay in craftsmanship and the outdoors. He will train in the endangered craft of Cornish hedging with the Cornish Rural Education and Skills Trust. He plans to set up his own business and to continue to support local charities to keep these skills alive.
  Tim’s bursary is funded by the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.
• Tobias Wright, from Norwich, is currently working as a building site labourer while saving money to train as a stonemason. He will train on the Stonemasonry Heritage Course at the Building Crafts College in London. After completing the course, Tobias plans to follow the tradition of the journeyman, travelling and working in his craft across Europe for three years, before establishing himself as a stonemason in the UK.
  Tobias’ bursary is funded by the Newby Trust.

Heritage Crafts Executive Director Daniel Carpenter said:

“Heritage Crafts is committed to increasing access to heritage craft skills for those least able to afford the cost of training, including those who have experienced multiple barriers. These bursaries, worth over £110k thanks to the contributions of our funders and sponsors, will not only set 29 individuals on the path to sustainable and fulfilling careers, but will also help improve the overall viability and public appreciation of these skills for many years to come.”

Click here to see the previous 30 bursaries awarded since 2021