Break the Mould: Healing Through Art
Break the Mould is empowering women who have experienced trauma through therapeutic sculpture workshops, offering a safe space for healing, skill-building, and self-expression.
Break the Mould is a Glasgow-based social enterprise that provides therapeutic sculpture workshops for women who have experienced sexual trauma, violence, and trafficking.
Meet the founder
The organisation is founded by Fiona Reid, who is a community art sculptor and tutor with over 30 years of experience working with vulnerable groups, including children with emotional and behavioural challenges and women recovering from trauma
Through creative expression, the organisation offers a safe and supportive space where participants can rebuild confidence, develop skills, and strengthen community connections.
By using sculpture as a powerful tool to help women process trauma, rebuild trust, and overcome feelings of isolation and inequality. The workshops not only aid emotional healing but also open doors to education, employment, and stronger family and community ties.
Fiona Reid brings three decades of experience as a community artist and sculptor to this vital work. Having grown up in the care system and overcome personal trauma, Fiona uniquely understands the healing potential of art. She has dedicated her career to working with vulnerable groups, from children with behavioural challenges to women rebuilding their lives after abuse. “Clay gives voice to what words cannot express,” Fiona explains. “In our workshops, women literally reshape their narratives with their own hands.”
Firstport’s Impact
The Start It Award in August 2023 enabled Break the Mould to establish crucial foundations for growth. The funding supported venue hire for safe workshop spaces, development of a professional website to reach more women in need, and the creation of sustainable partnerships with local support organisations. This investment has helped amplify their impact, allowing them to serve more survivors while maintaining the intimate, healing-focused environment that makes their work transformative.
The Transformative Power of Their Work
Participants report profound changes: from renewed self-worth to stronger community connections. Their workshops address isolation and despair while building practical skills that open doors to education, employment and healthier relationships. “Before coming here, I felt broken,” shares one participant, “now I see myself as an artist – and as someone who can heal.”
Break the Mould continues to grow, helping more women find strength, healing, and empowerment through art.
Your Next Step
If you want to find out more or support Break the Mould’s vision, visit their website to learn more about their workshops, view participant sculptures, and find out how to get involved.