After running a community pottery studio alongside her day job, Stacey Halabuda from Ogmore Vale has taken the plunge to expand her business venture, Ogmore Vale Community Pottery, and hopes many more local people will benefit from the art form.

Stacey set up the community venture in October last year and has been running after-school clubs since, alongside her job. After successfully applying and receiving funding from Pennant Walters, to purchase essential equipment, she decided there was never a more opportune moment to go for it and bring her business plan to fruition, and set up the offering full time.

Stacey continued:

“I received just over £5,500 from Pennant Walters, which was beyond my wildest dreams, but when you consider a pottery wheel costs in the region of £1,000 I needed to make sure I could stock the business so I could cope with the number of people wanting to come through the doors.

“The funding has given me a huge kickstart and I’ve been able to purchase equipment and 100kg of clay so that we’re good to go from the off!”

 The funding was secured from Pennant Walters, through its fund linked to the construction of the new, but standalone, Pant y Wal Wind Extension Farm, adjacent to Ogwr Valley.

Stacey will now open the studio doors, which is situated under the Ogmore Valley Boxing Club on Bethania Row, full-time from the beginning of July, just in time for the summer holidays, and looks forward to seeing many more people through the door.

Stacey added:

“I am thrilled to be able to open the doors and will be looking forward to seeing as many new faces as possible! Thanks to the funding from Pennant Walters, I’ve been able to invest in the business which will help me in realising my dream of offering something so different to the local community.”

Pennant Walters Managing Director, Dale Hart, said:

“It’s wonderful that this funding has enabled Stacey to follow her heart and offer something so unique to the area. Seeing the fun everyone is having in the studio, I can see why it’s so successful and hope it continues to grow.

"Our wind energy project community funds exist to make a difference to the local communities in which we work, and it’s clear to see the positive impact this funding will have for many years to come.”

For more information on Ogmore Vale Community Pottery please visit: @staceysclayworld on Instagram or www.staceysworld.co.uk and head to the studio page.

Picture captions: Ogmore Vale Community Pottery owner Stacey Halabuda with Pennant Walters Harry Llewellyn