Woodworking Volunteer

Touch Wood have ongoing opportunities for volunteers in our wood recycling workshop, in which we rescue waste wood, collected by EMERGE Recycling, and repurpose it for re-sale and re-use, or turn it into a wide range of upcycled timber products.

Our volunteers are able to gain skills in practical woodworking, as we offer hands-on experience of working with reclaimed timber; from prepping basic lumber products for re-sale to builders and DIY enthusiasts, through to assisting with the creation of bespoke items, such as practical or decorative pieces and furniture for home and garden. 

The UK generates around 5 million tonnes of wood waste every year, but less than 1% is reused. Touch Wood rescues waste timber that would otherwise be sent to landfill or turned into woodchip; creating jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged local people at the same time.

We collect from construction sites, industrial estates and other commercial sources, reclaiming everything from pallets to indoor cycle tracks – you name it, we take it! Anything we can’t reuse is locally recycled, so nothing goes to waste. Some of the timber we work with comes from high profile sources, including the entire track of the Manchester Velodrome cycling centre and wood removed in the refurbishment of Manchester’s historic Town Hall!

Our volunteers are able to gain skills in practical woodworking, as we offer hands-on experience of working with reclaimed timber; from introductory work making basic lumber supplies ready for re-sale, through to assisting with the creation of practical or decorative pieces and furniture for home and garden. Our team of staff and volunteers regularly create bespoke pieces to order; some of it for famous clients like record-breaking Olympic cycling champions Jason and Laura Kenny, for whom we made a table from the Manchester Velodrome track.

So whether you’re a jobseeker interested in a career in construction or woodwork, actively retired, a student or recent college graduate seeking experience, or just someone with spare time on your hands wanting to do something positive and to meet new people, volunteering with us may be just the ticket!

Full training in woodworking and health and safety is provided, along with Personal Protection Equipment. We also reimburse travel and lunch expenses on completion of a 4 hour shift.

Our Touch Wood workshop is open to volunteers Mon-Fri, 9am to 4pm, with 4 hour minimum volunteer shifts available within these hours according to your availability.

We occupy a unit at the EMERGE 3Rs base at Maynard House on New Smithfield Market, in Openshaw, North Manchester, which is accessed from the main site entrance on Whitworth Street East (off Ashton Old Road).

Please be advised that our volunteers require a fair level of physical fitness and manual dexterity because the role is entirely practical.