LWR works with the King’s Trust, the leading UK charity dedicated to helping young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn, by offering work placements. Young people on the scheme recently created planters to be donated to community group Holbeck Together. Several participants, including David and Luke (pictured), have moved into permanent roles at LWR.

Young people can also be referred to LWR by the local council. As well as work experience and woodworking skills, LWR supports trainees to obtain their CSCS cards, allowing them to obtain work in the construction industry.

The team at LWR are driven by their belief in the power of working with wood to build confidence and create an atmosphere of teamwork and positivity which is the key to combatting isolation. At no time was this more evident than during the COVID crisis. When lockdown hit in 2020, LWR started to run woodworking courses via Zoom and delivered tool boxes and timber directly to participants doors. They learned that there was a need for accessible woodworking classes to improve skills and provide a social space to tackle loneliness. From there, Leeds’ woodworking courses were born, and they have been teaching woodworking skills ever since!