Do you ever wish you had the confidence to make something for your home or garden out of wood but just don’t know where to start as you don’t know how to use a saw, electric drill, or a plane? Well, it would seem that you are not alone as several students have successfully completed the Woodwork for Beginner’s Course run by Oxford Wood Recycling based in Suffolk Way, Abingdon.
Oxford Wood Recycling is an award-winning Social Enterprise and Charity who offer commercial and domestic wood waste collections around Oxfordshire. They enable wood to be saved from landfill and re-used in a number of ways.
The first students completed the course in June 2022, with the two autumn courses booked in a matter of days. Oxford Wood Recycling plan to continue running the Beginner’s courses in 2023 together with a higher-level course for those who have successfully completed the Beginner’s course or who are already more skilled. They also plan to run a course for teenagers.
Each course runs over a six-week period, starting on a Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Students are taught all the techniques required to make a slatted stool and gain confidence in using a range of woodworking equipment. The Beginner’s course aims to provide students with basic woodwork skills, enabling them to conduct woodworking at home, be that for DIY such as making furniture or garden equipment such as planters.
If you think this may be something you would like to get involved in, two students who have completed the course would encourage anyone to take the first step.
“There was such a lovely and open teaching atmosphere – no question was too silly!”
“The course helped build my confidence and I learnt so much over and above making the stool.”
The courses are run by Wil Bowler. “The opportunity to teach a woodworking course has been amazing. Seeing the students’ progress over six weeks from absolute beginners to a competent level is rewarding. It’s also helped my confidence massively.”
Richard Snow, Oxford Wood CEO, said: “Through our popular Woodwork for Beginners Courses we have been introduced to a new audience and more importantly have been able to satisfy a need for new skills from makers, crafters, and home builders. We hope that through their time with us at OWR that they will be inspired to use reclaimed materials for their future projects.”
The Beginner’s Course costs £180.00 and to add your name to the waiting list, please email Mike@owr.org.uk You do not have to live in the Abingdon area to enrol as the courses are open to people throughout Oxfordshire.
For further information about Oxford Wood Recycling visit Facebook @OxfordWoodRecycling or oxfordwoodrecycling.org.uk
