The skills
THE NATIONAL CHARITY for Heritage Crafts
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Heritage Crafts was set up just fourteen 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 66 grants through the Endangered Crafts Fund. We have awarded 30 training bursaries, established the Heritage Crafts Awards and shone a spotlight on our world-renowned makers through 30 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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Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Tsun Hin Tang, from Leicester, brings extensive equestrian equipment maintenance experience from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and recently won third prize at the 2026 National Saddlery Competition. His bursary will fund his City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 training at the @walsallleatherskillscentre, covering intermediate and advanced courses in bridle, saddle and harness making.
Tsun’s bursary is supported by the @saddlerscompany.saddlershall.
Tsun said: “Receiving this funding from Heritage Crafts and the Saddlers’ Company means more to me than financial support. I began my journey in leather repair at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and after moving to the UK I have worked hard to continue learning traditional saddlery despite language and financial challenges. This bursary gives me the opportunity to keep developing these heritage skills, build a future in the craft I love, and continue a tradition of hand craftsmanship that I deeply respect. As a Hongkonger and recent immigrant to the UK, I hope my journey can help show that heritage crafts are open to people from all backgrounds and cultures.”
Patrick Burns from the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, said: “Tsun has had one goal from the outset – to become a Master Saddler in the UK – and re-locating from Hong Kong was only the first of many sacrifices he has made in pursuit of that. Having completed the Foundation Course (and getting his first ever Certificate of which he was incredibly proud), he is close to completing intermediate Bridle and will start on both Intermediate Saddle and Harness after the Summer. We are delighted to have him as a student. He is a great ambassador for the Centre and for saddlery.”
Do you need some extra skills training to make that successful transition into craft employment or self employment?
Less than two weeks left to apply for one of our training bursaries of up to £4,000 for new and early-career heritage crafts trainees who require financial support to gain the hands-on skills they need. Training can be on a course or one-to-one in the workshop, accredited or non-accredited.
Supported the Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion, the Dulverton Trust, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the Ashley Family Foundation, the Royal British Legion, the City & Guilds Foundation, the Newby Trust, Soane Britain, and Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.
➡️ Apply now via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/opportunities/training-bursaries/
📅 Deadline: 5pm, Friday 12 June.
📷 2025 recipient Reianna Shakil
Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Ella Clifton-Gould @ella_the_shoegirl, from Gloucestershire, has spent two years training in shoemaking, including specialising in orthopaedic footwear at @tuttyshandmadeshoes and studying in Germany. Her bursary will fund her place on the @unioftheartslondon Footwear Summer School at the @londonfashioncollege under the tutelage of Nafi Mustafa, covering course fees, travel and accommodation.
Ella’s bursary is supported by the @worshipfulcordwainers.
Ella said: “Without Heritage Crafts and the Cordwainers’ Company I wouldn’t have been able to have an experience like the shoemaking summer course. It’s been an invaluable resource and so exciting to be part of a creative community.”
Andrew Peal, @masterofthecordwainers, said: “The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers is delighted that Ella and Olive are to receive the 2026 shoemaking bursaries. It is incredibly important to the Company that we promote and support the craft of shoemaking so that it continues not only as a heritage craft but also as an important business sector in the UK. We are pleased that we can assist Ella and Olive in the development of their skills which will benefit their shoemaking careers and the UK’s footwear industry.”
Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Damilaara Adeyemi @damilaara, from London, is a costume maker who pivoted into the craft after a career in non-profit marketing and has gained experience on major film productions. Her bursary will be applied toward the fees for a practical, intensive course at the @northerncollegeofcostume.mdm.p, focusing on period tailoring, millinery and historical garment construction.
Damilaara’s bursary is supported by @costume_society.
Damilaara said: “Now my worldview has expanded to recognise costume making can be a viable career, I am so grateful to Heritage Crafts and the Costume Society for the opportunity to hone my craft. I truly believe representation does matter and I hope in future to at least inspire others to have the space to not only create practically and sustainably, but beyond imagination.”
Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Sabrina Clarke is a theatrical armourer and leatherworking assistant who completed an apprenticeship at the Royal Opera House. Her bursary will fund a diverse training package, including pattern drafting at @the_london_leather_workshop, an expert leather repair course, specialist tooling and dyeing with @philippadavidsonleather, and the purchase of essential equipment to help her continue her own practice.
Sabrina’s bursary is supported by @theleathersellers.
Sabrina said: “I am really pleased to have received the Heritage Crafts and Leathersellers’ funding. It will allow me to significantly enhance my growth as a leatherworker and help bring my ideas to life.”
We are delighted to award 20 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by @costume_society, @theleathersellers, @saddlerscompany.saddlershall, @worshipfulcordwainers, NLHF as part of the All Ireland Heritage Skills Programme, @bsmgp, International Guild of Knot Tyers and Royal British Legion.
• Damilaara Adeyemi @damilaara – costume maker
• Theo de Búrca @deburcastonework – stonemason
• Sabrina Clarke – leatherworker
• Ella Clifton-Gould @ella_the_shoegirl – shoemaker
• Steve Farrell – leatherworker
• Kate Fossey @katefossey – signwriter
• Clinton Geldard – leatherworker
• Nic Harding @ravensrockstudio1 – leatherworker
• Laurence Knoop @spliceandfid – ropeworker
• Kylie McConnell @barnbarroch_organic – leatherworker
• Gabe Perrott – joiner
• Emily Scholefield @esch.textiles – tutu maker
• Olive Shaw @oliveshoemaker3 – shoe lastmaker
• Laura Spencer @nova.stainedglass – stained glass artist
• Ame Stevens @a_stevens_woodworker – instrument case maker
• Tsun Hin Tang – saddler
• Andy Thorpe – tailor
• Izzi Walters @itw.leather – saddler
• Katy Warriner @warriner.leather – harness maker
• Libbie Watson @lwatson_design – leatherworker
Read more including details of each of their projects via the linktr.ee in our bio. We will also be posting about each of the recipients over the coming weeks.
A second round of bursaries closes for applications on 12 June and will be announced in September.
In case you missed Craftland author, Dr @jamesfox283 wonderful speech at the Living Legacies exhibition at @theleathersellers Hall during @londoncraftweek, he’ll be joining @heritagecrafts in the Marquee of Endangered Crafts at @craftfestival in Bovey Tracey on Saturday 13 June at 11.30am.
James is a huge supporter of the work we do and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back. He argues that to keep that Red List updated, to keep the bursaries flowing and to keep the advocacy alive Heritage Crafts need our support. So come along, watch live demonstrations, listen to makers and celebrate craft!
Tickets to the Festival available at https://craftfestival.co.uk, but once you are in all our talks and demonstrations are free to attend.
#craftfestival #heritagecrafts #craftland
Live demonstrations of endangered crafts, talks and more at @craftfestival with @heritagecrafts, in the Marquee of Endangered Crafts at Bovey Tracey.
Witness live demonstrations from:
✨Ed Griffiths and Sarah Spicer (@dartmoorshoemakers – shoe making
✨@zoegilbertson and @sophie_scanlon of LIFLAD, flax processing
✨Simon Nobs of @sthcoaststudio – woodgraining and marbling
✨ @nick_hand from the Department of Small works – letterpress
✨James Ashwell from @mottes_pots – clay pipe making
@stephs.midnight.flit – wagon painting
Talks Friday:
✨10.30am – @mashbonigala from the @theenglandarchive
✨ 11.30pm – @amy.goodwin.signwriter, fairground artist in conversation
✨2pm – @wheelwrightgreg and @wheelwright.sam – wheelwrights in conversation
✨ 3pm – @bramblecarpentry interviews @lacebynicholas – lacemaker
Talks Saturday:
✨ 10.30am – Sarah Liscoe, sail maker, in conversation
✨ 11.30pm – @jamesfox283 , author of ‘Craftland’
✨ 2pm – Elizabeth Jarvis interviews @johnwilliamson.dartmoor, Devon stave basket maker.
✨ 3pm – @katestrasdin author of ‘Dressing the Queen – 200 years of Making and Monarchy’
Talks Sunday:
✨ 10.30am – @thistlemetimbers and Harri Emery – boatbuilders in conversation
✨ 11.30am – @papilionaceouspuresilk – ribbon maker in conversation
✨ 2pm – @sarahvigarsart – marionette maker – talk and performance
Join us from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June
#craftfestival #boveytracey #heritagecrafts #endangeredcrafts
