Children from the Abbey School in Farnham will benefit from a hands-on pottery workshop after the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor John Ward, presented the school with a cheque for £800 from the South Street Trust.

The South Street Trust is a grant-giving trust that supports organisations in Farnham providing art-based educational activities. The Abbey School, which is a special school for 100 secondary school-aged children with learning difficulties and additional needs, will use the grant to fund a visit to the Farnham Pottery where the pupils will learn about the importance of pottery in Farnham’s history.

Each child will also have the chance to try practical pottery techniques by working with Farnham Pottery’s ceramicist.  The school also hopes to be able to take the children to the Watts Gallery in Compton to see clay artefacts and to learn about Mary Watts and the Potters’ Arts Guild.

“We hope that this grant will support the students’ learning and inspire them to enjoy and appreciate a craft that has helped shape Farnham,” says Councillor John Ward, Mayor of Farnham. “Farnham is rich in history so I am delighted that the South Street Trust has chosen to support the school in providing this workshop.”

The South Street Trust, of which Farnham Town Council is a trustee, awards around £20,000 in grants each year across approximately 25 projects.

Information about the criteria for a grant from the Trust and how to apply is available on Farnham Town Council’s website. Applications can be made between November and January, are assessed in March and awarded towards the end of spring. Visit the grants page to download an application form and for more details.