Created to tackle both wood waste and local unemployment, the Wood Shack in Sutton Coldfield, which is run by the Jericho Foundation, needed funding to better support individuals in the local area. With a grant from the npower Business Solutions (nBS) Foundation, it is now having a positive impact on both local people and the planet.
The Wood Shack is one of the Jericho Foundation’s social enterprises which works to tackle Birmingham’s high levels of unemployment. Alongside six other businesses, the timber yard offers training and support for people facing extreme challenges in getting a job. This includes young people not in employment, education or training, modern slavery survivors and people with complex, intersecting needs.
A safe space for these individuals to work, grow in confidence and learn new carpentry and woodworking skills, the Wood Shack offers a supported apprenticeship programme and volunteer placements. Plus, it uses waste timber from construction, demolition, manufacturing and wood processing businesses that would otherwise be heading to landfill.
“The funding we’ve received has made a huge impact. It allows us to support many more participants, all of whom have some really severe and extreme barriers to employment.”
Having already trained 17 people per year and reused 650 tonnes of waste wood, the grant from the nBS Foundation enabled the team to upskill and create new products. It was also used to improve its marketing and sales and raise more money through its reclaimed wood shop.
Rebecca Stone, Head of Fundraising at the Jericho Foundation, said:
“I think I can speak for everyone here at Jericho and the Wood Shack in saying a massive thank you to the nBS Foundation for the support they’ve given us. It’s made a huge difference to the team morale and provided more opportunities for the participants here at the Wood Shack.”
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