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