Swansea Community Workshops is a charity that provides the opportunity for people of all backgrounds to pursue practical interests in a friendly communal environment.
We value:
- Our community wellbeing
- Craft and creativity in all its forms
- Equal access and opportunity to express yourself in creative spaces
- The skills and craftmanship of local artists and makers
- Social spaces and collaboration
- Empowerment through skill sharing
- Curiosity and joy
- Accessibility and inclusivity
Our main targets are to:
- Provide fully equipped workshops in major practical crafts.
- Reduce unemployment by providing productive skilled education.
- Use practical activity to reduce poor mental health arising from social isolation.
- Provide educational craft courses to the wider community.
- Improve community spirit by enabling visitors to mix and socialise in a community hub.
Swansea Community Workshops was formed in September 2016 after a public inaugural meeting was convened to invite people who have problems caused by aging, loneliness, unemployment, separation or other health issues and who would be interested to join a social environment where they can share practical equipment and resources. The group were subsequently constituted using the UK Charity Commission’s model constitution and registered accordingly as charity number 1172508 at the Charity Commission on 10th April 2017.
The Swansea Community Workshops comprises a group of various workshops covering multiple crafts. For example, we have a workshop for carpentry and similar fabrication work; a communal activity room for various craft activities – glass arts (stained, decorating, fusing, mosaics), clay working, pottery, willow weaving, motivational talks, etc.; a fully equipped studio with glass kiln; and finally individual small rooms for private craft projects. To support these activities we are fortunate to have a display area or shop where members or groups can advertise their interests or production.
All of these areas are supported by all the necessary services – kitchens, toilets (incl. disabled), IT network, heating, etc., and a communal recreation area where all or any participants in SCW can socialise. It is hoped that the ultimate layout and purpose of the building will encourage a friendly, cohesive and co-operative fraternity. Overall, efforts are being made to regenerate High Street in Swansea with a creative artistic theme, and we wish to harmonise with this theme.