September 2019
British Ceramics Biennial 2019
This
year’s International Festival was of especial interest to the group
because we became closely invloved with the Cast of Thousands and
Growing Cultures projects. We are actually listed in the Festival
booklet under Participants and Co-Producers. Only Joe was able to find
his contribution…but the rest were in there…possibly at other sites.
For its 10th Anniversary, BCB 2019 had exhibitions on multiple
sites…China Hall Spode Works, Middleport Pottery, World of Wedgwood,
AirSpace Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

After visiting the BCB Exhibition in the China Hall at Spode Works, we
enjoyed lunch at the Wheatsheaf Stoke before heading off to the New Vic
Theatre to see Almost a Sacred Duty about the Minnie Pit disaster in
1918. A memorable cultural day out.
End of Lottery Funded Project
Our
final evaluation tea party at Belong Village Newcastle confirmed what
we already knew…the project has been a great success with significant
beneficial impacts on participants health and wellbeing. The final
report has been submitted and accepted. a big thank you to everyone who
participated and contributed.

We Are Stoke-On-Trent
We
must be gettingsomething right if the BBC asks us to take part in a
week-long series of short films to show the upside of Stoke. It was fun
having Yusaf Akbar film one of our Photography Workshops with the
inspirational Natalie Willatt. Whilst Yusaf was conducting interviews
with Angie, Joe and Maurice…Natalie was getting the rest of the group
to tip-toe to the loo in order to use running water to wash the
developed black & white film rolls. The feedback has beeen enitrely
positive. If you haven’t seen the film on live TV or online, you can
view it by clicking on this link

September Meeting
Because Hanley Community Fire Station was
already booked on the date of our September Meeting, we met at the
American Clubhouse, Cobridge instead. Favourable comments were made on
how cosy and relaxing a space it was. We are truly fortunate to have two
safe spaces available for our use. With no guest speaker, ithe evening
offered a chance for people to chat about the group and to come up with
suggestions to help with the next funding bid.
Outings
and workshops form part of the two-year OLGBT Wellbeing Project funded
by the People’s Health Trust using money raised by HealthFair through
the Health Lottery
