On 12th September, our Young Achievers from Torry and Cove got hands-on with something wonderfully new - casting fish in plaster as part of an exciting creative workshop at the youth club. The session was delivered in partnership with Creative Learning Aberdeen, a team dedicated to helping people realise their potential through arts and creativity. Their work supports individuals of all ages to explore identity, build confidence, and develop skills through engaging, participatory art experiences. Under the warm glow of the evening, the young people gathered around, curious and eager to learn. The focus of the workshop? Demonstrating how to cast a fish in plaster, an activity that blended play, learning, and cultural exploration all into one. It wasn’t long before sleeves were rolled up and hands dipped into clay and plaster.

Why Creative Workshops Matter

Creative sessions create space for expression, connection, and discovery. As our Young Achievers shaped their fish moulds and explored textures and details, they were also learning patience, teamwork, and how to see a project through from start to finish.

The process of working with clay and plaster gave them an opportunity to slow down, focus, and engage deeply with an activity. It sparked their imaginations and encouraged them to share ideas, ask questions, and celebrate each other’s creations. For many young people, it was their first time trying something like this, and the sense of pride in what they made was clear. It was a chance to get stuck into something new.

Their mission is to support individuals and communities to grow in confidence, develop creative skills, and explore their identity through the arts. It’s thoughtful, people-focused work, and for our young people.

More Than Just Clay

The activity - learning how to press and shape clay into fish forms, then casting them in plaster. The experience opened up something much more meaningful. Our young people from Torry and Cove – many from migrant backgrounds learnt a new skill as well as connected with each other, focusing their energy, and building something they could be proud of with their own hands.

Art has a way of giving young people space to slow down, be present, and pay attention. It invites conversation. And most importantly, it gives them ownership over what they create. By the end of the workshop, the once-blank boards were lined with plaster fish, some smooth, some textured, some tiny, others bold and big, but all crafted with care.

A Session Full of Energy

It was hard to miss how much fun everyone was having. Laughter, questions, and quiet concentration moved through the group as they pressed their clay into fish moulds and experimented with their own designs. Some copied shapes from the demonstration, others freestyled entirely. And when it came time to mix the plaster and pour it into their moulds, the excitement was full-on.

We’re always looking for ways to give our young people opportunities that stretch them, creatively, socially, and emotionally. This was one of those moments.

We were truly glad to see how enthusiastic the group was. A few young people who had never touched clay before were quickly asking when they could do it again.

Thank You to the Team

We’re grateful to Kevin Andrew Morris, who brought warmth, patience, and a quiet humour to the session. His demonstration was clear and welcoming, and he moved through the group with a reassuring presence that made even the most hesitant young person feel at ease.

A special thank you as well to Mandy and the entire team at Creative Learning Aberdeen for making this workshop possible. Their commitment to making creativity accessible is what makes partnerships like this work so well.

We’re proud that our TOL Young Achievers had the chance to be part of it.