Timber charities to support this Christmas

Looking for a different charity to support this Christmas? How about a timber charity?

As we welcome the last month of 2022, some of us may take the opportunity to reflect on the previous year. Some will consider donating to a local charity. 

At Wood for Good, we are always looking for ways to promote nature’s most versatile building material – wood, which is why, this year, we have collated a list of timber-based charities for you to consider supporting.

1) National Community Wood Recycling Project

Founded in 2003 by Richard Mehmed, the National Community Wood Recycling Project is a national network of wood recycling schemes designed to take wood out of the waste stream while providing opportunities for disadvantaged people.

Each centre combines a competitive wood waste collection service; timber yard for trade and the public; and often a wood workshop in which volunteers can learn to produce bespoke furniture to order.

With projects located throughout the UK from Cardiff to Brighton, Preston to Glasgow, Northampton to Hull, take a look at the online map and timeline to find a centre to support near you.

2) Chopsticks

Chopsticks (North Yorkshire) Limited is a community business and charity that supports adults with disabilities to develop new skills and friendships in a workshop environment.

It was established in 1997 by a small group of adults with learning disabilities who began working for themselves, chopping firewood from scrap timber and selling it to the general public, thus creating ‘Chopsticks’.

The charity has since expanded to build bespoke timber products and offers community outreach and garden services as well.  

3) Timber Trades’ Benevolent Society

Founded in 1897, the Timber Trades’ Benevolent Society was established to assist past and present members of the Timber Trade who are in need.

The TTBS assists not only aged and retired timbe trade members and their dependants, but also younger members who have suffered illness or injury, or those who have lost their partners and are still caring for their children.

4) Woodland Heritage

Woodland Heritage aims to create a UK that is more self-sufficient in timber grown in healthy, well-managed woodlands that benefit people and wildlife.

The organisation works in partnership with others on various projects, from working to advance new approaches to forestry, to raising awareness of the best techniques in use today, through to finding ways of increasing volumes of processed timber.

We hope you can find a timber charity that you would like to support this Christmas.

We are not affiliated to any of the charities named above, but we do share the same vision for timber. If you have any queries about the charities, please contact them directly.