We love making things for local causes, and we love helping people learn new skills – have a look at our Projects page to see the sort of things we get up to. If you have something you think we can help with, then please do get in touch via Facebook (post or Messenger) or our contact form – or just pop over for a visit.
We explicitly don’t act in a way that displaces local businesses. We politely decline commissions that ‘feel’ like they should be carried out by a professional, or have very specific requirements that really need a formal agreement. Having said that, if you are intending to make it yourself then we are very happy for you to apply for membership and work in the Shed with any other members that may want to help.
The easiest starting point for a commission is a photo of the sort of thing you’re looking for and a brief description of how you intend to use it. Some things have obvious risks associated with them that we will be reluctant to take responsibility for, such as climbing equipment for children. Some things may need dedicated materials to be purchased for us – our stock is mostly donations and dismantled pallets!
Please consider your timeframe carefully. The speed a commission is completed varies wildly, and not just based on project complexity. We will work to a deadline, but probably only for 2 or 3 hours a week and often missing a week due to holiday or breakdown of communication between us.
In summary, we love to be asked to help. What you actually get may not be quite what you asked for, it may take a very long time, and it may be made of mismatched materials that we have ‘modified’ in creative ways… but we will have hugely enjoyed making it for you and will proudly share photos with everyone!