In Memory of William 'Bill' Laird

The Gloucester Woodworking Project has been running since 2016 at the Chequers Bridge Centre. We took over an old storage shed at the back and gradually transformed it into a fully equipped workshop. Most of the equipment was generously donated by community groups and individuals. Today groups use the workshop almost every day of the week.

Jon runs sessions where people can learn basic woodwork skills. Participants work on their own small projects, such as carving bowls or making boxes, or join forces on larger group projects. These larger projects often benefit the community, like benches for the café on Robinswood Hill. Participants learn at their own pace, with no pressure.

We’ve also been joined by another charity, Network Crafts, which uses the workshop to teach woodturning.

The woodworking project ties in perfectly with our youth work. Sometimes, we offer young people a new hands-on experience, while other times, we organise larger group projects for school classes. For example, Gloucester Academy wanted a group of pupils to have a day working in the community. With Jon’s guidance, the group built a horse shelter for St James City Farm. The students enthusiastically participated and thoroughly enjoyed the experience—many of them volunteering for the first time.

Over the past year, the workshop has focused on accepting commissions from various sources, including the Gloucestershire Gateway Trust. One standout commission was a larger version of the bee sculpture we created for Gloucester town centre. This ambitious project was one of the largest we’ve ever undertaken.