Workaid – Tools for Life – The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

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.

TOOLS DONATIONS

From 29th March 2021 we will resume accepting donations at The Old Boot Factory on Monday and Wednesday, between 10am and 4pm. You will need to make an appointment to donate which can be made by clicking the Make an Appointment button on the following page here.

To respect social distancing and for the safety of everyone, we can only accept donations if you have an appointment.

THE WORKAID SHOP

We plan to re-open the Workaid Shop on Thursday 15th April, and resume our usual days of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am to 4pm. The Workaid Shop

Thank you for your continued patience and support and look forward to seeing all our fantastic customers soon.

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

VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROJECTS

TOOL KITS SHIPPED

SEWING, KNITTING & TYPEWRITER MACHINES SHIPPED

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?