36 new training bursaries awarded

Heritage Crafts is delighted to award 36 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion, City & Guilds Foundation, William Grant Foundation, Ashley Family Foundation, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Army Benevolent Fund, Royal British Legion, Sussex Heritage Trust, Angelicat Trust and Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.

These follow 14 bursaries awarded earlier this year supported by The Royal Mint, Leathersellers’ Foundation, Costume Society, Cordwainers’ Company, International Guild of Knot Tyers and Society of Scribes and Illuminators, 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.

• Winta Afewerki, from London, learned sewing through community classes and is currently working as a studio assistant for Genevieve Devine. Her bursary will fund her place on the Level 3 Certificate in Tailoring at the Fashion Technology Academy.
  Winta’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Zakara Akhonzada, from London, has made clothes for friends and family for many years and is striving to become a skilled tailor in a number of styles including traditional Afghan attire. Her bursary will fund her place on the pattern cutting, waistcoat making and tailoring courses at Fashion Enter.
  Zakara’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Jenni Bangs, from Fife, has worked in the maritime and sailing industry for several years. Her bursary will help fund the course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, which will provide her with formal, structured training and a deep knowledge of traditional methods in wooden boat building, rigging and sailmaking.
  Jenni’s bursary is supported by the William Grant Foundation.
• Angela Benjamin, from London, started jewellery making as a hobby via an adult education course while working as a physiotherapist. Her bursary will fund one-to-one training in clasp construction from jewellery makers Daniela Malev and Sarah Macrae, and from wood sculptor Donald Baugh.
  Angela’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Freya Bletsoe, from Bridgend, is a part-time local councillor transitioning careers to focus on the polishing of silver and gold, particularly regalia and trophies. Her bursary will fund a six-month, flexible one-to-one training programme with master polisher Stephen Goldsmith at his workshop in Somerset.
  Freya’s bursary is supported by the Angelicat Trust.
• Harri Emery, from Dorset, has a deep-seated passion for traditional wooden boat building, developed through a varied career in the marine industry. Having taught herself woodworking skills, her bursary will fund a place on the intensive course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis.
  Harri’s bursary is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Dai Ifor-Evans Jones, from Anglesey, is a part-time self-employed blacksmith and on-call firefighter aiming to establish his own blacksmithing business. His bursary will fund a two-week blacksmithing course with Spike Blackhurst in Llanbrynmair and a metal casting course in Liverpool.
  Dai’s bursary is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Emily Gash, from Conwy, began her millinery journey in 2022, attending an introductory course and building her skills through online academies and short courses. Her bursary will allow her to complete a City and Guilds Level 2 millinery course and receive four days of one-to-one straw embroidery teaching from Claire de Waard in London.
  Emily’s bursary is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Soraya Gill, from Greater Manchester, plans to set up a bespoke tailoring business, and is interested in empowering young females who have experienced trafficking. Her bursary will fund professional tailoring training.
  Soraya’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Kerrie Hanna, from Belfast, is an early-career stained glass artist who has had to self-teach many of her skills since the studio where she worked closed in 2020. Her bursary will fund a diverse training programme, including masterclasses with Juliet Forrest, a five-day summer school at The Glass Hub and flameworking with Andrea Spencer.
  Kerrie’s bursary is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Zein Harfouch, from Manchester, is a recent product design graduate with a passion for furniture making. His bursary will fund his place on the professional furniture making course at Sylva Wood School, providing the hands-on, industry-focused training he needs to transition into a professional career.
  Zein’s bursary is supported by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Phoebe Harris, from Sussex, has a long-standing passion for timber framing and the conservation of historic timber-framed buildings. Her bursary will help fund her place on the MSc in Timber Building Conservation at the Weald and Downland Museum, providing the academic and practical skills she needs to excel in a male-dominated craft.
  Phoebe’s bursary is supported by the Sussex Heritage Trust.
• Maria Herbert-Liew, from North Ayrshire, is a self-employed artist and illustrator who has recently taken up the craft of marionette making. Maria will use the bursary to undertake one-to-one training with Oliver Hymans at Little Angel Theatre in London and John Roberts at PuppetCraft in Devon.
  Maria’s bursary is supported by the William Grant Foundation.
• Ian Horne, from Glagow, served for eight years in the RAF, including tours in Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. His background in plumbing and welding led to an interest in metallurgy and subsequently to coppersmithing. His bursar will fund intensive training with contemporary coppersmith and fellow veteran Roy Evans.
  Ian’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Kuljit Jandoo, from Kent, took a number of short courses in jewellery making after a period of illness. She hopes to create a recognisable jewellery brand with a loyal customer base. Her bursary will fund her place on the Diploma in Fine Jewellery at the Jewellers Academy in Brighton.
  Kuljit’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Leah Jennings, from London, has a textiles degree from Central Saint Martins that was unable to provide her with the hands-on weaving skills she needed. She plans to be commissioned by designers to create bespoke fabrics for fashion applications. Her bursary will fund her one-to-one training with weaver Ali Holloway.
  Leah’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Elizabeth Joseph, from London, is a self-taught maker who runs community craft workshops for African and Caribbean seniors and teenagers. Having sewn since childhood, her bursary will fund formal training in fabric flower making with masters of the craft Giulia Mio and Anne Tomlin.
  Elizabeth’s bursary is supported by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Mary King, from Worcestershire, who served as a driver in the Royal Navy, is a skilled woodturner looking to transition into leatherworking after a recent above-knee amputation. Her bursary will fund a range of courses, including pattern cutting and an introduction to leatherworking, to develop the skills to make and sell dog collars and harnesses.
  Mary’s bursary is supported by the Royal British Legion.
• Scott Macfarlane, from the Scottish Highlands, served for 15 years in the Royal Air Force and the British Army. He seeks to train in the critically endangered craft of sporran making, complementing his wife’s kiltmaking business. His bursary will fund training with leatherworker Nigel Armitage to get a well-rounded foundation in the craft.
  Scott’s bursary is funded by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Miranda Nifah, from London, has sewn since childhood and went on to complete a fashion degree before starting her bag business. In the future she would like to provide meaningful employment to a small team of makers. Her bursary will fund her place on the bag design and production course at the University for the Creative Arts.
  Miranda’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Angel Nkomo, from London, began her interest in fashion at school as a fashion leader, but her hopes of moving into an apprenticeship or junior position within the industry were prevented due to a lack of qualifications. Her bursary will fund her place on the Level 1 and 2 sewing courses at the Fashion Technology Academy.
  Angel’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Ramsay Pagett, from Perth and Kinross, is a silversmith who recently graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and is currently undertaking an unpaid artist residency. His bursary will fund one-to-one training with Warren Martin in Sheffield, one of the UK’s few remaining masters of silver spinning, a critically endangered heritage craft.
  Ramsay’s bursary is supported by the William Grant Foundation.
• Molly Richards, from Leeds, is a self-taught bag maker who uses reclaimed materials. Her bursary will fund a tailored training programme in London, including a masterclass and one-to-one sessions at the London Leather Workshop, to help her develop her skills in leathercraft, design and business.
  Molly’s bursary is supported by Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.
• Emily Salinas, from Liverpool, is a self-taught sign painter with a background in graphic design. Her bursary will fund a diverse training programme, including a year-long online course with Paul Myerscough, in-person gilding and coach painting courses. This will provide the structured learning she needs to make sign painting a viable career.
  Emily’s bursary is supported by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Aminat Seriki, from London, studied at Central St Martins and graduated during COVID meaning she had less workshop time than most. She plans to build a professional knitwear portfolio. Her bursary will fund one-to-one training from Helen Kaye in Dubied machine operation, pattern making, garment construction and finishing.
  Aminat’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Reianna Shakil, from London, is a product and furniture designer looking to develop her woodworking skills and confidence. Her bursary will fund a place on the intensive, two-year Fine Woodwork, Furniture Design & Making Diploma at the Building Crafts College, providing the formal training she needs.
  Reianna’s bursary is supported by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Clare Sikorska, from London, is a former legal advisor who has retrained as a tailor and costume maker. Having taught herself to sew during the pandemic, her bursary will fund two part-time courses at the London Academy of Bespoke, which will provide her with specific, hands-on skills and valuable industry connections.
  Clare’s bursary is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
• Rachel Spence, from Nottinghamshire, is a skilled violist and fine art enthusiast with a deep passion for lutherie. Her bursary will support her second year on the BA Violin Making and Restoration course at the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts, allowing her to focus on the intensive hands-on training.
  Rachel’s bursary is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
• Ella Mae Sueref, a self-employed artist and wagon painter from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, has faced significant socio-economic barriers in pursuing formal training. Her bursary will fund one-to-one training with Joby Carter for sign writing and coach lining, and Gypsy wagon painters Billy Joe Hall and Sarah Harvey.
  Ella Mae’s bursary is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Harry Walkeden, from North Yorkshire, served for nine years as a Guardsman/Drummer in the Coldstream Guards, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, he has been working as an apprentice stonemason for the National Trust. His bursary will fund a series of specialist courses to help him to establish a successful business.
  Harry’s bursary is supported by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Erik Warner, from Birmingham, has done various short courses in tailoring. As well as a couture collection focusing on sustainability, he would also like to act as a role model and inspiration for young people. His bursary will fund one-to-one training with tailor Jojo Remeny.
  Erik’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.
• Nick Wilkinson, from the West Midlands, served for 23 years in the Household Cavalry. Since leaving the military, he has run free leatherworking sessions for other veterans to support their mental health. His bursary will cover the costs of a structured training programme at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre.
  Nick’s bursary is supported by the Army Benevolent Fund.
• Stephanie Wiltshire, a self-taught artist with a background in traditional folk art, is seeking to expand her skills in the endangered craft of wagon and vardo painting. As a nomadic individual, her bursary willfund one-on-one training to provide her with the skills she needs to create a more stable career and secure her future as a full-time craftswoman.
  Stephanie’s bursary is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
• Rae Woods, from Abergavenny, is a self-employed freelance carpenter specialising in timber structures within the built environment, who founded The Woodworkers Alliance to connect historically-marginalised emerging makers with skilled mentors. Their bursary will fund three specialist training courses to deepen their conservation skills.
  Rae’s bursary is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Tony Wright, from North Tyneside, served in the Royal Marines. He is a former social worker and probation officer, and in 2013 he established the veteran’s charity Forward Assist. He now hopes to create a small business selling bespoke sterling silver jewellery, and his bursary will fund training with a local silversmithing studio.
  Tony’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• One other recipient, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

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 £139k thanks to the contributions of our funders and sponsors, will not only set 36 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 81 bursaries awarded since 2021.