Chelsea Pensioners start potting

Creativity Found: finding creativity later in life

How a group of senior ex-servicemen and women experience the calming and therapeutic facets of pottery, and through that explore human connection, creativity, and the sheer joy of crafting.
I was invited by Emily Chilvers to Royal Hospital Chelsea to find out more about the pottery sessions she runs there, to meet and chat with some of the pensioners that enjoy spending time in the pottery studio and, of course, to see what they’ve been making.
The benefits of pottery extend far beyond the act of moulding clay. For many of the residents partaking in the sessions, pottery is a form of self-expression and a source of joy, a weekly process that helps them to navigate personal challenges and discover new aspects of themselves. This episode delves into the therapeutic benefits of pottery, and how the tactile nature of working with clay provides a tangible connection, a sense of identity, and an avenue for creativity. For those who may lack physical touch, moulding clay becomes a comforting and sensory experience.
Moreover, the pottery sessions offer an opportunity for social interaction. The pensioners involved in the classes at Royal Hospital Chelsea have formed a supportive community. They share experiences, learn from each other, and celebrate each other's creations.
In this episode with Emily and some of the potting pensioners, I learn that pottery can be a medium of therapy, self-expression, and connection.
You can also see the potters' work featured on our YouTube channel, Creativity Found Podcast.
If you found value in this episode and would like to show your appreciation, consider supporting the podcast through the Support the Show link, or by sending a boostagram , for example in the Fountain app.
CreativityFound.co.uk
Instagram: @creativityfoundpodcast
Facebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found group
YouTube @creativityfoundpodcast
Pinterest: @creativityfound
Twitter: @creativityfoun
Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Ar

Please vote for Creativity Found in the Women in Podcasting Awards.
Click on this link, then on Arts and Design, then on Creativity Found. Thank you xxxx 🧡
Find the nominees for all categories here

Click here to book a 1-to-1 online chat with me to understand more about the Creativity Found Collective, the promotional and networking membership for creative small businesses.

Support the Show.

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout
Subscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list here
Join the Creativity Found Collective here

Chapters

1. Chelsea Pensioners start potting (00:00:00)

2. Pottery Apprenticeships and Creative Aging (00:07:55)

3. The Impact of Pottery on Well-Being (00:20:04)

4. Experience of Woodworking and Pottery (00:30:52)

5. The Therapeutic Benefits of Pottery (00:34:51)