We have awarded a grant of £994.42 to Luddendenfoot Community Association, the registered charity which operates Luddenden Foot Community Centre on Station Road. The grant will meet the cost of the electrical installation needed to bring a kiln into use as part of a new ceramics and arts workshop.

The Community Centre is being brought back into fuller use after a period of closure caused by severe damp ingress. Trustees and volunteers have worked hard to repair, clean and redecorate rooms, and the building is once again beginning to host regular activities alongside its monthly food market. The Association’s wider aim is to create a welcoming local hub where people can meet, share skills and take part in community life.

The grant will support the conversion of under-used rooms at the rear of the building into a practical ceramics workspace. A local artist has offered a kiln on long-term loan, but it requires a dedicated electrical connection to the Centre’s distribution board. The Rotary grant covers this quoted installation cost; other support will be sought for ventilation, shelving and decorating the space.

Once established, the workshop is expected to host regular ceramics classes and workshops. The proposed programme includes introductory sessions, longer sculpture courses, seasonal and folklore-inspired workshops, occasional children’s and family activities, supervised studio sessions and potential kiln hire for local artists and community organisations. Classes will be run in small groups, creating a sociable and supportive environment as well as opportunities to learn practical creative skills.

The project should benefit several parts of the local community. It will provide an accessible venue for local artists and tutors, give adults and children more opportunities to take part in creative activity, and help address the loss of a previous local children’s pottery club. Rental income from the workshop can then be reinvested in the continuing improvement of the Community Centre.

We wish the trustees and volunteers every success, and look forward to seeing the new workshop become a lively part of the Centre’s future.

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