Craft Event Will Showcase County Borough’s Creative Talents

Some of Bridgend County Borough’s most creative people will be showcasing their talents at a county craft event in Tondu later this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Glass engravers, jewellers, and card makers will be among those selling their products, giving demonstrations, and also offering advice to other like-minded people who are interested in setting up a craft business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Organised by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Reach rural development team, the event will take place on Thursday 23 February, from 10am – 4pm in the Wesley Church Centre on Maesteg Road, Tondu (CF32 9BT). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Charles Smith, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “If you love crafts then this is the perfect event for you. There will be lots of locally handmade products on sale, and plenty of workshops to take part in too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This event is also part of a wider project which aims to develop the skilled crafts sector in rural parts of the county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We really want to maximise the economic potential for high quality, locally made crafts, and this event will provide an excellent insight for any crafts people who are looking to go into business. It is also aimed at existing craft businesses who are interested in networking with other crafters.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The free event will feature a talk about setting up craft businesses, while another guest speaker will talk about the benefits of crafting for people living with dementia. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Smith added: “Research has found that creative activities help to reduce social isolation, increase wellbeing among housebound and elderly residents, and are also beneficial for people who are living with dementia. As a result, we are very keen to identify more ways that these intricate skills can be taught more in local communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A wide variety of crafts will be represented at the event including glass engraving, making wedding jewellery, willow weaving, felting, traditional Welsh baskets, card making, model boat making, historical shoe making, embroidery, candle making, ceramics and jewellery making. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The crafts project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you are a crafter or a member of a crafting group that would like to get involved with the event, please contact the Reach team on 01656 815080 or email reach@bridgend.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​