Creative clay workshop boosts wellbeing in Redditch
A new arts project run by Bangladeshi Community of Redditch CIC is helping improve health, confidence and connection among local residents. Supported by a Public Health Worcestershire microgrant, the group hosted an air‑dry clay workshop on 28 January at Batchley Community Centre.
The session drew on Bangladeshi cultural heritage, giving people the chance to create traditional‑inspired pieces that will later feature in the Great Bangla Heritage Bazaar.
But the impact went far beyond the artwork.
Participants described how simply turning up, sitting with others and using their hands again had lifted their mood. Creative activity is known to reduce stress, support emotional regulation and improve overall wellbeing; and that came through strongly during the session. People talked about feeling calmer, more focused and more motivated after just one workshop.
For many, it was also an important step out of isolation. One person said it was “nice to get out of the house, try something new, have something to eat, and meet other people.”
Others discovered a sense of achievement they hadn’t felt in a long time. “The workshop was amazing — I discovered a hidden talent!” said one participant. Another added: “I feel confident and want to try again.”
And the benefits don’t end with the workshop itself. The heritage pieces created will be displayed at the Great Bangla Heritage Bazaar, giving the work a second life and celebrating Bangladeshi culture in a public, community‑wide setting. For many attendees, seeing their pieces showcased will reinforce confidence, pride and a sense of belonging.
The success of the session has sparked interest in more sustainable, creative activities including a potential trip to a local pottery café and follow‑up workshops.
This small microgrant has created something bigger: a simple, culturally meaningful activity that supports mental wellbeing, reduces loneliness, and does so in a low‑impact, sustainable way. It shows how grassroots creativity can strengthen communities…one handful of clay at a time.