About Woodworks
Hugh’s story
Woodwork has been my lifelong passion. After working in formal and informal community education, I set up Woodworks in September 2016, working in my cellar and back garden. In February 2019 I took on a shop in the Leegate Shopping Centre, London SE12. From there I carried out commissions and repairs/modifications.
In September 2020 I set up Woodwork classes. These have grown rapidly and now account for a significant portion of the business. In October 2024 we moved to our current premises in Ladywell SE13. We took the opportunity to become a Community Interest Company (CIC). This helps us better serve the Community.
Community
Our community benefit goals are:
- Creating confident Woodworkers, enabling work readiness
- Improving health and wellbeing, through social connection and reducing isolation[HR1]
- Promoting good environmental and sustainable practice
We are looking to offer more places and courses for people with additional or specific needs (eg mental health, stroke rehabilitation, autism) and for marginalised groups (eg homeless, refugees.) This would be in partnership with trusted charity and community partners. To this end we are looking to raise funds, seek sponsorships, commissioning and use profits. Please contact us using the Contact page if you would like to find out more.
‘Hugh was great, so insightful and helpful with my own project. Gave me instruction and help but also allowed me space to make my own mistakes and learn! It was a really good experience and one I would highly recommend!’
– James F
Environment policy
We focus on positive ways we can improve our environmental foot- print for the long-term benefit of all. To this end we:
- work locally
- use local suppliers as far as possible
- ensure that timber and materials we buy are responsibly sourced
- reuse and refurbish where possible.
- do not own a vehicle, for choice it’s a bicycle – where necessary we use shared transport solutions such as Zipcar, Zipvan, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and cabs
- keep up to date with the latest research around environmental issues through our support of Friends of the Earth, Woodland Heritage, and the Woodland Trust.
- Design, create and adapt products of quality – designed to last
- minimise waste generation through the following:
reduced consumption; recycle packaging, plastics and office paper; waste timber off-cuts recycled as fuel (any good material goes to local projects eg. Men in Sheds); use information technology to reduce printed material; safe and proper disposal of any waste created that is not recyclable; use rechargeable battery power tools; use of environmentally friendly lacquers, paints and materials as far as possible.
