Woodwork For Wellbeing

WOODWORK FOR WELLBEING We have started this project because we are all passionate about woodwork and the benefits it can have on the wellbeing of people of all ages. Why? A) It's great fun! B) Making things and doing anything with a tangible outcome is excellent for our mental health, sense of achievement and accomplishment. C) Design Technology is slowly becoming less important in schools and receiving less funding, meaning practically-focused students are not being given the much-needed opportunities to explore their practical and creative skills. D) Trades and Engineering fields are in much need of young people who are practically minded. E) Young people are spending more and more time inside on a screen, with less real-time interaction F) We can go on if you want us to, but we think you get the point. The idea is to get vulnerable people of all ages together to learn, socialise, have fun and feel good about themselves by making things. We are in the process of setting up a series of woodworking workshops aimed at, and catering for, vulnerable people in and around London. We are primarily focusing on young people between the ages of 8 and 13 years of age, but will be looking to extend to more specific groups of people - i.e- people with autism, those who have anxiety problems, those trying to overcome mental health challenges and people who are currently homeless. We are already working on a couple of smaller sized projects, associated with Adventure Playgrounds in South London. We are also running weekly mens group at St Margarets House in Hackney.