GWK Woodshed social enterprise searching for new home

By Kris Jepson

A social enterprise in Gateshead which says it has improved the lives of more than 300 people in the North East is launching an appeal for new premises to avoid closure in September.

The GWK Woodshed launched in 2015 at its current site in Gateshead Central Nursery. It supports people aged 14 to 64 years old, some of whom are long term unemployed or from disadvantaged backgrounds, to help them progress into a career or education.

Watch @krisjepson's report here:

Groundwork NE & Cumbria, who run the project, say it has proved so successful that the charity is seeking to find more permanent premises in order to accommodate the number of people wishing to participate and increase the level of production.

People attending GWK Woodshed have the opportunity to turn reclaimed wood into bespoke indoor and outdoor furniture.

The products are then sold to individual customers, schools, and businesses, including pubs and restaurants.

GWK Woodshed's lease at Gateshead Central Nursery comes to an end in September, and if the charity can't find a suitable premises to move to before then, the project will have to close down.

The charity says it needs to find a large, public-facing space that can accommodate both a workshop and a shop, in order to carry on creating and selling the furniture, and to continue providing training and support for the people who use GWK Woodshed on a long term basis.