CERAMICS
Academy
Community Interest Company
Creating Community
At the heart of the Ceramics Academy CIC is the desire to create community. Our aim is to make pottery more accessible to the local and wider community, helping narrow the social gap and increase opportunities.
Clay is transformational, it elicits a sense of calm and peace. We want to share these therapeutic qualities with as many people as possible.
By partnering with local organisations and professionals we will support the health and well-being of children, young people and adults through tailor-made pottery workshops in a safe, relaxed and fun environment.
What we offer
With all these sessions there will be the option to progress through the services we offer. We have many members of the studio who started off coming to one class a week and are now full members taking commissions and selling their work.
Coffee Pot Sessions
Sessions for Adults
Monthly subsidised pottery sessions for all adults. These sessions are a gentle and relaxed introduction to the studio with a small project make. No pressure to sign up to classes, just somewhere you can come for a natter and refreshments.
No need to book, just turn up. £8 to take part and have your work fired.
Please note that capacity is limited and we politely ask that you arrive no more than 5 minutes before the session begins.
Session times
Friday 10.30am-12.30pm.
Coffee Pot – Taking a Pause
Sessions will continue to take a short pause until September while we review how they can best meet community needs in the future.
Behind the scenes, we are exploring exciting new ideas, future projects, and different ways to continue supporting our community through creativity and connection. We look forward to hopefully sharing more news soon.
Tea Pot Sessions
Targeted sessions for Community Groups and Charities
Two hour tailor-made subsidised pottery workshops for local charities and community groups.
The Skylarks and myself would like to say a huge thank you for such a relaxing and friendly environment to 'play' in. We all really enjoy our sessions with you and as ladies of 70 plus the mental stimulation is an extra bonus. The teas, coffees and biscuits are always welcome. Keep up the great work.
Fran on behalf of Skylarks Group
Workshops
For Adults, Young People and Children
Two hour subsidised tailor-made pottery workshops for groups and individuals.
Courses
For Adults
Subsidised four week pottery courses for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges, delivered in partnership with local social prescribing and wellbeing teams.
Places are accessed via referral, and we are working towards securing funding to offer more sessions free at the point of use.
The whole experience at Ceramics Academy has been wonderful for Koli in so many ways. Jo really is a great teacher who's kind, calm and fun.
Mandy - parent of a young person
We’re really pleased to share that we have just completed our first free 4-week pottery course for adults, delivered in partnership with local social prescribers.
The course brought together a small group of participants for weekly sessions focused on gentle skill-building, creativity, and connection. It’s been wonderful to see confidence grow over the weeks, along with a real sense of community forming in the studio.
This marks an important step for the CIC in helping to make pottery more accessible and supporting wellbeing through creative activity. We’re currently reflecting on the course and exploring how we can build on this in the future.
Thank you to Cllr Ed Tyldesley who supported our project by awarding us a Locality Budget Grant of £1,000. Thanks also to everyone involved in making this first course such a positive experience.
Support
We would like to expand what services we are able to offer with the aim of making some of them free at the point of use.
If you can spare the price of a cup of tea/coffee and put some 'Pennies in the Pot' please click on the link below to make a one-off donation.
If you are able to give a little more, to help us continue the work we are doing please click on the button below and choose your one-off donation amount.
Thank you for your support.
Supported by:
Cllr Ed Tyldesley - Locality Budget Grant of £1,000
Thank you to everyone who supports our event, from donations, to baking cakes through to giving up your time. We couldn't do it without our great community.
Past Events
Soup Bowl Fundraiser
Soup Bowl Fundraiser
South Molton Eco Fair
Soup Bowl Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who supported our auction. We are so grateful to everyone who donated auction lots, placed bids, and spread the word. We couldn’t do it without your support!🙏💫
24 Hour Pottery Throwdown
total raised =
£6166.38
From the 4th-5th April 2025 Taz, along with professional potters and our studio potters took on the mighty challenge of keeping our pottery wheels constantly spinning for 24 hours.
Taz and friends smashed the challenge and raised an amazing amount in the process. This was split equally between our CIC and local charity ChemoHero, a fantastic local charity supporting people through their cancer treatment. Thank you to Rob and his team for all their help in supporting our event.
The money raised will enable us to carry on providing subsidised pottery workshops for the local and wider community such as:
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working with a small group of young people who are neurodivergent, tailoring each session to their individual needs and strengths.
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Running 'Tea Pot' sessions for local charities and community groups as well as our monthly 'Coffee Pot' workshop.
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Pilot a 4-week fully funded course for young people who will get to try their hand at different pottery techniques such as slab building, pinch pots and wheel work, in a relaxed and supportive environment.
in aid of ChemoHero and CA CIC
Thank you for your support
Photo credited Karolina Andresova
@karolinaandresova
Join our community
If you would like to join our community as a volunteer, we would love to welcome you.
Future Roles
There are lots of ways to help, from fundraising to supporting workshops and everything in between.
Please get in touch with our friendly bunch for more information.
To register
your interest
Taz Pollard MA
Founder and Director
Owner and lead tutor of the Ceramics Academy, Taz has over 20 years experience teaching ceramics and also has a background in supported learning and running Arts on Prescription programmes.
Our Directors
CA CIC is limited by guarantee, this means there are no shareholders, and we have directors to run the company.
David Baker
Director
David studied at Harrow School of Art, Studio Ceramics. He went on to teach at Petroc (previously North Devon College). David was the Programme Manager and co founder of the Arts on Prescription Programme (AoP), a collaboration with the Community Mental Health Team, local GPs and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. AoP gained recognition locally and nationally for the professional and effective delivery, joint winner of the Association of college’s The Beacon Awards which celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK further education (FE) colleges.
Further the AoP programme contributed to the research into art and health, Journal article Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 16(2), 2012, pp.84-89, publisher: Emerald.
Rosie Godfrey
Director
Children’s author, poet, and amateur potter. She spent many years teaching children with special needs in a range of educational settings, before working in a Children’s Hospice, with Gypsy and Traveller families, and later as an Early Intervention practitioner, supporting vulnerable children and families within a Youth Offending Team project.
During this time, Rosie created 'The Art of Parenting', a creative course promoting the health and well-being of mothers, particularly survivors of domestic abuse, through one-to-one work with local artists and community-based learning.
Rosie has seen first-hand the power of clay to nurture curiosity, confidence, and self-esteem in both children and adults, and is passionate about supporting the mission and vision of Ceramics Academy CIC.
Sarah Bunyard
Director
Business Manager for the Ceramics Academy and a hobby potter. She has a background in administration and education, and is passionate about children and young people’s mental health. Sarah leads on administration for the CIC.
