Enabling disadvantaged young people in Africa to build sustainable livelihoods
We are a charity based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire empowering young people to help themselves by developing the skills and knowledge needed to find gainful employment or start their own business. We do this by collecting unwanted tools, refurbishing them to a high standard and shipping them to training centres and self-help organisations in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. In 2015 we received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. To get involved you can volunteer, donate your tools or give a gift to change a life.
The Workaid Shop is open for business on its regular days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Visit The Workaid Shop page HERE for information about the changes we’ve made for everyone safety.
Donations are welcomed at The Old Boot Factory but only at our workshop in Chesham, however, we’ll only have a limited number of volunteers available. Unfortunately we are unable to collect. Visit our Donate Tools page HERE for our new process for receiving and handling donations.
Thank you for bearing with us and for your continued support. It’s very much appreciated. Last update: 13/08/2020
MAKE A DONATION
Make a Donation
Make a secure payment by credit or debit card as a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a Workaid Gift. Just £5 per month for a year enables us to send a sewing machine, 2 haberdashery kits and cover the cost of shipping to a vocational training centre in Africa.
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VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
Volunteer your Time
We always need volunteers.
Join our team at The Old Boot Factory in Chesham, or become a local collector around the country.
Share your skills and make new friendships. All you need is enthusiasm.
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DONATE YOUR TOOLS
Donate your Tools
Change lives by donating your unwanted tools, equipment and haberdashery items.
Each year 80 tonnes of tools are saved from landfill, refurbished and sent to vocational training projects in East Africa and the UK.
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What we stand for
As a charity dedicated to helping people help themselves Workaid tackles poverty mainly in East Africa and the UK. We collect, refurbish and then supply tools and equipment to self help groups and vocational training projects.
Tools for life
We help provide a valuable community service by refurbishing tools that would otherwise be thrown away. Supported by a large group of volunteers from all walks of life, we supply disadvantaged people with the tools and practical skills to become self supporting.
Founded in 1986 we work directly with partners we have personally visited in each country ensuring that the projects are genuine. We provide people with things they want rather than what we think they might need and we never send money. Our ethos is providing Tools for Life.
What we have Achieved
In 2015 Workaid received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and in 2016 we celebrated our 30th Anniversary
Our first ever container went to Kenya in 1994 and we now send 8 containers a year to East Africa containing 80 tonnes of equipment supporting over 180 projects.
A breakdown of machines shipped includes Sewing Machines (21,662), Knitting Machines (3,482) and Typewriters (9,827). Tool kits include Carpenter’s (5,743), Mechanic’s (1,196), Mason’s (1,487), Electrician’s (593), Plumber’s (384), Leather worker’s (678), Horticultural kits (1,828) plus a range of larger miscellaneous equipment such as turret drills and lathes (7,526).
Our group of volunteers continues to grow but so do our plans, so to help us change lives why not volunteer today?
Stories from the Field
Workaid during the COVID-19 Crisis
The Trustees made the decision to close Workaid to volunteers and suspend collection of tools to safeguard everyone against COVID-19 before the the country-wide lock down came into force. For the Trustees it was [...]
The Big Give 2019 – Your £1 = £2
The Big Give 2019 - For every £1 donated we'll receive £2: midday Tuesday 3rd December - Tuesday 10th December Help young people in Zambia and double your donation! One donation, twice the impact. [...]
Latest Video from Workaid in Zambia and Uganda
Latest Video from Workaid in Zambia and Uganda In September, Adrian Hatch, our CEO, travelled with Moyra Zaman, our Zambian Co-ordinator and Trustee, to Zambia before he travelled on to Uganda. They visited projects [...]
WORKAID News
Workaid during the COVID-19 Crisis
The Trustees made the decision to close Workaid to volunteers and suspend collection of tools to safeguard everyone against COVID-19 before the the country-wide lock down came into force. For the Trustees it was [...]
Re-Opening the Workaid Shop
The Workaid Shop first opened its doors 10 years ago and has [...]
The Workaid Shop is Expanding
After ten years since the Workaid Shop opened we're expanding, upgrading and [...]