Help Martha at studio1 ceramics

Hello everyone, I'm Martha and I have been running pottery and ceramics courses in Haringey since 2017. The studio has moved to a larger, more professional space in Manor House Warehouse District , due to its success, but now I'm asking my local community, my students and my friends for a little help over the next few weeks.

Those of you who have attended my classes will hopefully know how passionate I am, not only about ceramics, but also about providing a space for everyone to come together to learn. Teaching you over the past 5 years has been an absolute pleasure. My artistic dream come true. I adore my job and my amazing studio which I want to continue sharing with regular and new ceramics enthusiasts. I don't want my dream to come to an end. Regular students often say how the studio is a space where they feel relaxed and comfortable. They see the classes as a time where they don’t have to look at a screen, a place where people don’t even think to pick up their phone. It is a sociable and comfortable environment where all abilities can enjoy working with clay.

I am regularly told how important my classes have been to people as a way of escaping from the stresses of work and of life, especially after the pandemic. The studio is a place where people can share ideas or work independently and develop their skills and their confidence in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Just like most people, everything was running perfectly before the winter of 2019.The effects of lockdown and the fuel and cost of living crisis have impacted the studio enormously. Bookings have become fewer and fewer over the months, especially this month as we head into the holidays. I've had 5 bookings for the whole of August, but to survive I need over 24 to ensure the rent of the studio and the huge fuel bills get paid.

On top of this financial worry, my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer November 2019 (just before the dreadful lockdown years). Due to the pandemic I was unable to visit my parents at all as they were both shielding and classed as highly vulnerable. Mum had immunotherapy which really helped, and later chemotherapy which also stabilised the cancer over those two years. Since this, both my parents have down sized and moved to a more manageable home in Liverpool, which although is a comfort, was incredibly stressful for them both especially because of my mum’s condition. Over the past month mum’s health has declined. The cancer has spread to liver and lymph nodes and she is increasingly unwell and in need of care.

Without a doubt I need to be with her in Liverpool to cook meals and help with medication as well as taking her to her appointments and spending time with her and my dad.

I just need to know I can be with her while she really needs me and still have my small business to come back to.

I am confident we will bounce back as everyone returns from their well needed holidays but we need some support over the next few months to pay some large bills. Not being able to be in London 7 days a week to really push through all of the many things that are needed to be done to keep a small business going, means I'm pushed to the limits and I could really do with some help.

Sophia, my fantastic studio partner can teach the small amount of classes currently booked in but I still need to pay bills and wages to make that happen.

Right now, even with everything that's happened and is happening, I am fully confident and enthusiastic to grow the studio and to continue providing a space where people can thrive in ceramics.

So, I’m now trying to raise £3,000. In the event that I can raise more that will be spent in the same way. This money will cover my studio rent and the electricity bill (which the kilns contribute to) - this alone is £2000, the rest will go towards materials and to ensure Sophia is compensated for her help at this time with the classes and the running of the studio in my absence. But any amount would be a fantastic help.