19/06/2026
For this week’s story from the community, we’re sharing an update from The Heritage Crafts Association, who received a large multi-year grant from the Ashley Family Foundation to support 3 young people with training bursaries focused on traditional heritage crafts 🎨
They’ve supported Emily from Llanfairfechan in millinery, Rae from Abergavenny in woodworking and timber conservation, and Dai from Beaumaris in blacksmithing – all pictured below!
The funding was able to provide qualifications and fund mentorship opportunities from leading practitioners, for those from marginalised backgrounds who may not have had the opportunities otherwise 🫶
The funding has not only supported individuals but has also substantially strengthened wider communities and professional networks.
Rae founded The Woodworkers Alliance, creating a network that connects historically excluded emerging makers with skilled mentors, ensuring that heritage skills are immediately disseminated to a broader community 🤝
Meanwhile, Dai’s professional growth directly impacts his local community – his long-term ambition is to use his new casting skills to restore the ironwork near his local UNESCO World Heritage Site and to teach blacksmithing at his local college 🧑🏫
By supporting these specific individuals, the Ashley Family Foundation is not only safeguarding at-risk heritage craft skills but creating active ambassadors who are dedicated to training, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of Welsh artisans 🖼️
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Ar gyfer stori o’r gymuned yr wythnos hon, rydym yn rhannu diweddariad gan The Heritage Crafts Association, a dderbyniodd grant aml-flwyddyn sylweddol gan Ashley Family Foundation i gefnogi tri pherson ifanc gyda bwrsariaethau hyfforddi sy’n canolbwyntio ar grefftau treftadaeth traddodiadol 🎨
Maent wedi cefnogi Emily o Lanfairfechan mewn melino hetiau, Rae o’r Fenni mewn gwaith coed a chadwraeth pren, a Dai o Fiwmares mewn gwaith gof – llun o bob un isod!
Mae’r cyllid wedi sicrhau bod gan bobl y cyfle i dderbyn cymwysterau a chyfleodd mentora gan ymarferwyr blaenllaw – i bobl o gefndiroedd lleiafrifol, fydd efallai wedi colli allan ar gyfleoedd fel arall 🫶
Nid yn unig mae’r cyllid wedi cefnogi unigolion, ond mae hefyd wedi cryfhau cymunedau ehangach a rhwydweithiau proffesiynol yn sylweddol.
Sefydlodd Rae, The Woodworkers Alliance, gan greu rhwydwaith sy’n cysylltu gwneuthurwyr newydd sydd ar wahân yn hanesyddol, gyda mentoriaid medrus – gan sicrhau bod sgiliau treftadaeth yn cael eu rhannu’n uniongyrchol gyda’r gymuned ehangach 🤝
Yn y cyfamser, mae datblygiad proffesiynol Dai yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar ei gymuned leol – ei uchelgais hirdymor yw defnyddio ei sgiliau castio newydd i adfer y gwaith haearn ger Safle Treftadaeth y Byd UNESCO lleol, ac i ddysgu gwaith gof yn ei goleg lleol 🧑🏫
Drwy gefnogi’r unigolion hyn yn benodol, mae Ashley Family Foundation nid yn unig yn diogelu sgiliau crefft treftadaeth sydd mewn perygl, ond hefyd yn creu llysgenhadon gweithredol sydd wedi ymrwymo i hyfforddi, mentora ac ysbrydoli’r genhedlaeth nesaf o grefftwyr Cymreig 🖼️
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