Fréa Renewing Roots Community Group Clay Making
This blog series follows the journey of a survivor support group made up of men and women who were either born in or gave birth in Ireland’s Mother and Baby and County Home institutions and now live across the North of England. Some are first-generation survivors supporting their loved ones and trying to make sense of their own stories. We meet once a month across the north of England, creating a safe and welcoming space for connection, reflection, and sometimes just a good bit of craic.
The purpose of this series is to gently share the spirit of the group - the laughter, the moments of reflection, and the creative ways we’re supporting one another. We hope that by sharing some of this journey, others will feel less alone and might be encouraged to reach out, whether they’re seeking support for themselves or for someone they care about.
No personal stories or identifying details are shared without clear permission. The focus is on the collective experience and the power of coming together, after years - sometimes decades - of silence & isolation.
Shaping Clay, Finding Calm
Our second gathering took place in Liverpool, in the warm and welcoming space of The Brain Charity, where we were joined by a special guest: Olivia Rowan, ceramic artist and finalist from The Great Pottery Throw Down. Olivia brought with her not just clay and tools, but patience, kindness, and a calm presence that immediately put the room at ease.
She began by taking the cross-shaped motif from the Fréa Renewing Roots logo and dividing it into segments. Each person was given a section of the clay to work with - free to carve, shape, bend or weave it however they liked. What emerged was something both individual and collective: unique pieces created by different hands, all coming together to form a whole. Olivia gently gathered the works at the end of the session to glaze and fire them, ready to return next month as something new - transformed, solid, permanent.
Just like the group itself.
Settling In, Finding Each Other
There were new faces in the group this month - some nervous, some curious, but all welcomed with warmth. And as only Irish people can do, conversations began with:
“Where are you from?”
“What part exactly?”
“Ah, do you know such-and-such?”
One woman from Merseyside ended up sitting beside another member now living in Yorkshire. They hadn’t met before, but within minutes they were chatting away like two schoolgirls, giggling, telling stories, swapping memories. It was both funny and lovely to witness. The kind of moment that reminds you: this is why we do this.
There were long silences, too - but never empty ones. Just people working with their hands, comfortable in the quiet. Then a story would bubble up, or a burst of laughter would break through, and the room would lift again.
An Unexpected Stillness
In the corner of the room sat an old Zender piano, a bit battered and forgotten. At one point, a group member - after wrestling with his clay - quietly stood up, opened the lid, and sat down. Without a word, he began to play.
At first, no one moved. Heads lifted slowly, eyebrows raised. Then, ‘Silent Night’ filled the room, followed by well-loved Irish tunes. His eyes were closed. He wasn’t in Liverpool anymore - he was somewhere back in the south east of Ireland, a young boy at a piano, long before any of this.
It was one of those rare moments that catches your breath. You don’t want to speak. You don’t want to break it. Eventually, the room returned to its clay, the soft notes from the piano lingering in the background, adding a stillness, a gentleness, a kind of oneness.
It was one of those unexpected moments that leaves you thinking:
“I’m glad I was here to witness that.”
Carrying It Home
As the session came to a close, the clay pieces were laid out - rough, raw, and beautiful in their imperfection. People stood back, admiring the work - not just their own, but each other’s. There was a quiet pride in the air.
As folks packed up and said their goodbyes, the talk had already turned to next time:
“I can’t wait to see them when they’re finished…”
“I wonder what it’ll look like all together.”
Then, one by one, they made their way back - to Liverpool, to Yorkshire, to towns and cities across the North. Back to the routines of daily life. But maybe, this time, carrying a little something extra.
Not just clay on their hands, but a bit more connection. A bit more calm. A bit more of themselves.
If you’re reading this and wondering whether this group is for you—whether you’d fit in, whether it’s the right time - just know this:
You’ll be met with warmth, understanding, and a drop of laughter. You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to explain. Just come as you are. We’ll be here.
See you next month for edition three of our blog series.
If you’d like to learn more about the group or how to get involved, please get in touch.
You can reach us via email at renewingroots@frea.org.uk or call one of the team:
Patrick: 07432 138 682
Natalie: 07849 835 841
Ciaran: 07732 901 782