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This week, we chatted to Alison Gorrod from Explore, Make Create, which offers sewing and art classes to both adults and children.

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Tell us about your creative venture?

My creative venture was born out of the necessity to give my daughter an art qualification that her high school was denying her through the lack of choices during the ‘options’ process. Having previously taught Fashion and Textiles at college level I felt it was achievable for me to take her through her coursework for GCSE Art, Design and Craft, culminating in her sitting the exam at school. It was tough going at times but she was determined and hard working, achieving a grade 9 last year. It made me realise how little opportunity there is for our children to be creative, but also how skills can so easily become lost down the generations.

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The name Explore, Make, Create evolved from thinking about how individuals may approach anything art or craft related. I offer sewing and art related classes to adults and children. For adults it’s an alternative social activity as well as an opportunity to learn a new skill. I have held beginners’ workshops where the youngest was 10 and the eldest was 77.

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The benefits of creative practice cannot be underestimated in terms of mental well-being and boosting self-esteem, alongside gaining vital skills such as problem solving and time management along the way.

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What do you love about Tameside?

I’m originally from Pembrokeshire in West Wales so Tameside is a very different place to live. What I love about it is all the opportunities on our doorstep, being so close to Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and yet on the edge of some beautiful countryside. I love the history of the area in all its grit, the legacy left by the mills and industry of times past. Brick terraced houses I only saw on Coronation Street as a child growing up, very different to the pretty painted cottages on the coastline of Wales, I find them fascinating, what stories they could tell if walls could talk!  I miss being close to the sea but after being here for nearly 30 years, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

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How is Tameside's heritage and culture reflected in your business or venture?

The rich history of textile mills in Tameside and its decline has taken with it many skills such as weaving and other textile related skills. I would love more people to become engaged with textile craft, learning techniques, thinking about how they shop and gaining skills to lengthen the life of their garments and household textiles. Appreciating how highly skilled the population of Tameside was. It always blows my mind when I read the history of Stalybridge timeline on the stone in Cheetham Park, how the town grew rapidly through the rise of the mills.

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What do you believe would bolster the region's cultural & creative community?

I have recently moved into a premises, after hiring rooms to hold my workshops and delivering lessons from my home sewing room. It is a converted storage container within Stalybridge Storage and although it is a great space I would really like to be more visible on the high street. Most of my clients have found me through social media but a presence with passing foot fall would be such a boost. Stalybridge is starting to rebrand itself, from the days of Stalybridge Vegas, with the success of the Foodie Fridays lots of new independent cafes are opening which is great for the town.

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There are still so many empty shop units that could be amazing spaces for creatives. Those that have been refurbished command extremely high rents. For the town to flourish and boost the local economy I feel there should be some kind of support from the council to assist with rents for those wishing to add choice along our high street. Having creative spaces has a huge ripple effect across our society as a whole, it can change our views, how we interact with others around us and how we care for our environment.

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What are your 3 favourite venues/ventures and services in your Tameside hometown?

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Portland Basin Museum has to be at the top of the list of my favourite places in Tameside, although I have not visited recently, I have wonderful memories of spending full days there with friends when my daughter was little. It is such a privilege to have this free resource on our doorstep.

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Our parks are beautiful but made even more special with events such as the outdoor theatre productions, bringing the arts to those who may not ordinarily be able to access theatre is such a gift to the people of Tameside. I love the canal, not quite Tenby Harbour but to be able to be near water and the wildlife it attracts is a real bonus to Stalybridge.  

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Armentieres Square is a great spot for events.

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Find out more about Alison’s Explore, Make, Create sessions at www.facebook.com/ExploreMakeCreate

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