Thame Community Workshop has been provided with a big bundle of tools for their repair shop thanks to a donation from home improvement business Wickes and its store in Aylesbury.
Thame Community Workshop is part of the UK Sheds Network which offers workshops equipped with machinery and tools to carry out practical tasks, creating refurbishing and making as well as providing companionship and support for those no longer working, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Thane Shed was formed in April 2022 by Mike Ashford when Chinnor Rugby Club based in Thame. granted a ten year lease on a redundant store room and work began to create the workshop.
The shed has 45 members who have the opportunity to use the workshop on three mornings per week either working on their own projects or making and repairing items for their local community in return for a small donation and cost of materials. This group have made wooden swords for the local panto, planters for Buckinghamshire Wildlife Trust and a Tombola spinner for Barley hill school. One of their most recent commissions was a job for Thame Museum, a stunning 1950’s model merry-go-round. BBC Repairshop were unable to help but this talented group came to the rescue to ensure the merry-go-round, goes round again once more!
They also run a number of different workshops teaching skills such as wood turning.
Mike Ashford, founder of the Thame Community Workshop said: “ We were so grateful and pleased to receive the tools from Wickes. We rely solely on donations and having these tools in the workshop will really help us to ensure we have enough of the right equipment for all our members to use.”
Wickes Aylesbury Store Manager, Scott Wilson said:”We were delighted to be able to support the community workshop and ensure they have enough of the right tools. It's clear they are playing an important role within the community and that's what our community programme is here for”
The Wickes Community Programme is open to all local community groups seeking help for improvement projects, and any groups interested in applying for a donation should head into their local store to speak to the manager.
