At Brandon Trust we run our 'Splinters' project, based at Elm Tree Farm in Stapleton, and are now looking for several volunteers with basic practical and woodworking skills (hand tool and power tool experience) to help in the project alongside staff and people we support. We support people to make a range of items such as planters, bird houses, bug houses, upcycled tables and chairs, etc.
A helpful volunteer in Splinters is someone who:
- enjoys woodwork;
- is comfortable explaining techniques to support learning;
- is patient, friendly, adaptable, practical, tidy, creative and enjoys working alongside people and taking instrutions from staff;
- can help and support our co-farmers during the process of making wooden products, increasing their skills, independence and confidence;
- Is able to guide co-farmers through projects, following all the different steps of the process and help achieving personal outcomes.
We have spaces for volunteers on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Mornings are preferable but we may have some flexibility. A regular weekly commitment is expected.
You can read more about our projects based at Elm Tree Farm here Elm Tree Farm | Enterprises & Supported Employment and below is a brief description of our Splinters Project:Splinters is our woodwork project. We support adults with learning disabilities and autism to learn new skills, develop confidence and increase independence. We produce a range of high-quality, wood-based products, including decorative items for the home and garden. Bird boxes, insect hotels, and wooden planters are just some of the items we make. These can then be purchased at our onsite farm shop and at the Brandon charity shops. We also sell restored and upcycled wooden furniture, as well as carrying out small-scale furniture repairs and restoration projects for customers. We pride ourselves on using recycled timber wherever possible, and we also sell kindling and fire blocks from the farm shop.
If you have woodworking skills and would love to help out please email volunteering@brandontrust.org and we will be in touch.