TouchWood is a recycling workshop based at Atlantic House, Uig, on the North West coast of the Isle of Skye. It is the first truly rural social firm in the UK, and began trading in December 2001. The purpose of TouchWood is to employ people who have disabilities or health problems, or who are long term unemployed. We currently employ five people, all of whom are paid equally, at market rate, for the work done, irrespective of any difference in ability. We also create volunteering opportunities for others for whom full time work is not an option.
Overview
We currently manufacture quality household and garden furniture from recycled wood - mainly wooden pallets which are used in deliveries of building products to Skye, although we also receive donations of old wooden furniture. The disposal of pallets would otherwise be a cost to locally-based firms, so consequently there is no shortage of raw materials.
Our products are made to commission, mostly for local people, and range from small, simple items like bookcases or chopping boards, to much larger pieces including a child's Wendy house and a conservatory. We have recently made a range of outdoor benches, bird tables and chairs for a school wildlife garden. Waste wood from our workshop is sold locally as kindling and firewood.
Second Hand Wood - Brand New Furniture!
KEY PARTNERS
The idea for working with wood within the context of a social firm came from discussions between three people:
Vicki Wills - Highland Council Social Work Services
Pat Gordon, MBE - a local JP, active in a number of community organisations, and with a particular interest in mental health issues
Vicki Samuels - who had a particular interested in bringing the idea of a social firm to Skye, and is the local Training and Guidance Co-ordinator working with clients with mental heath problems.
A number of agencies and funding bodies supported the project: small grants from a combination of sources (see section on funding, below) allowed the project to employ staff to raise further funds, in order then to identify and fit out premises and move towards the current phase of the project. The Local Enterprise Company helped back an earlier (unsuccessful) bid for an old primary school, and advice was also provided by different departments of Highland Council and the Skye Housing Association.
The formation process for Touch Wood was much more organic than formal. Generally, the support from agencies has been very positive, as efforts have been made at all stages to understand the aims of different funders, and to draw out the benefits from their point of view. There were some issues around differences of understanding of the role of a social business in the early days of the project. The local area manager for the Highland Council (John Macdonald) has been very supportive over the life of the project.
A number of training organisations have also helped provide advice and referrals:
Lochalsh Learning Centre
Alternative OPtions
LEAD Scotland
Careers Scotland
Local Learning Partnership
Nevis Training Ltd.
Support and help has also been received from
Able Care
Social Firms Scotland and Social Firms UK
The Cabin Local Mental Health Drop-In Centre
Skye & Lochalsh Association for disabilities
Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Services
Skye & Lochalsh Enterprise Companies
FUNDERS
A very wide range of funders has supported the project at significant levels, for both capital and (more importantly) revenue funding:
The Highland Council
Health Education Board Scotland - for library of materials about health issues, woodworking and recycling.
Highland Cross (mountain marathon - walking, cycling) - pickup truck with crew cab to collect pallets from a wider area, undertake wider environmental works (beach clean ups) and deliver finished products.
Scottish Executive (Rural Challenge Fund): three years funding, extending the project managers hours and employing a further two people who were previously on disability benefit.
The Mercer's Company for capital equipment.
Scottish Co-op Community Awards
Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise Company - capital and refurbishment of building.
Sponsorship has also been attracted from:
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland - general project funding over three years.
The Highland Cross pickup truck has clear branding.
In addition, the project identified local companies who have helped by donation of pallets or other materials, but not as formal sponsors.
Income generation is a key part of the project, both financially, and in terms of showing participants that others value things they have made. Products are made to order, and have included
- Large items, such as a Wendy house, and a conservatory
- Garden furniture for a school wildlife garden, and other outdoor furniture - planters, picnic tables, and a unique 'windproof' bird table.
- Indoor furniture including bookcases, shelves, doors for kitchen units, a front door, and picture frames.
In addition, waste wood from the pallets (much of the wood is not useable) is sold for kindling and firewood at £3 for a large sack. The sacks are donated from the Isle of Skye Brewery. Some waste wood is also burnt in a stove to heat the workshop.
THEMATIC CRITERIA
Highland, Waste Reduction, Job Creation, Addressing Poverty
Plan
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The initial focus of the project was to develop an employment / occupational health solution to the problems faced by people with mental health problems. There was a perceived gap between training courses and mainstream employment, which the project aimed to address.
OUTPUTS
The project seems to be encouraging a change in behaviour to a more sustainable approach on the part of some businesses and among those who choose to purchase the products, as opposed to those commercially made elsewhere.
FUTURE STEPS
The project is likely to expand in the foreseeable future, assuming continuation of both demand - which seems likely - and funding to support the social elements of the project.
The main future challenge is expanding the current operation and fulfilling the order book without loosing the ethos of the project. This is a constant balance, given the aim of providing training and work experience for those employed. Future work might include expansion into other types of recycling activity, employing more staff.
Other projects are also planned in relation to the computer facilities (4 pcs are currently available for public use) and there is some discussion around a tourist information facility as well.
Progress
SeLSFDG was set up in May 1998, and the group was chaired by Vicki Samuels.
The group above formed the core of the organisation, and co-opted others to form a committee of ten people, involving all local agencies as early as possible to 'avoid treading on people's toes'. At this stage, the group was running at small scale, based entirely on volunteer time for both management and operations. Early meetings were held wherever space could be found.
The group was operating from 'The Cabin', a drop-in centre in Portree or TAG premises. John Jones was, at that time, recovering from health problems, and therefore had time available to volunteer on the woodworking and practical side of the organisation.
CURRENT ISSUES/ EVENTS
Review
ACHIEVEMENTS
The achievements of the project to date are:
- To have set up a charitable company, fulfilling all of the aims of the original business plan.
- To have built up a demand, based on the quality of products, for wooden goods and household and garden furniture.
- To have successfully managed the process while still retaining the original ethos of the project, providing training, volunteering and work experience opportunities for those with mental health problems, at a rate of £5 hour for a 30 hour week.
- To deliver all this with a focus on a process which takes wood waste which would otherwise be land filled, and uses it as a raw material for furniture and for fuel.
MEASURING ACHIEVEMENTS
To some extent, success is measured by the achievements of the organisation - these are entirely consistent with the original aims of the business plan. A number of the beneficiaries have gone on to employment through the project, and all have gained an appreciation of their own abilities, which remains the central aim. The project has also provided an informal volunteering opportunity for a number of local people.
It is also possible to quantify the waste diverted from either landfill or incineration. It is estimated that around 200 pallets each month are re-used. Firms would otherwise have to pay for their disposal, so there is a conventional, if small, economic benefit as well in terms of financial savings reducing business overheads.
PROCESS (local involvement)
The key local people were the three instigators/innovators behind the project: Vicki Samuels, Vicki Willis and Pat Gordon.
Around 10 people have consistently been involved in the management group. A range of beneficiaries and volunteers has participated - perhaps around 20 in total, with a maximum of 8 or so at any one time in the woodworking side. John has also been involved consistently, as a volunteer before project manager.
More widely:
- Local businesses participate by separating (and in some cases delivering) wooden pallets, to be used as the main raw material for the group.
- Local people participate by donating old wooden items for refurbishment, by purchasing kindling and firewood (waste products after splitting the pallets), and by commissioning furniture which is made by employees and volunteers in the project.
- The local councillor has arranged for wooden furniture to be passed to the project when collected for dumping by the council.
The project has received considerable publicity, and has grown through word of mouth. Beneficiaries are recruited through a mixture of word of mouth and referral from agencies.
The management committee is entirely composed of local people. Although a number of the committee members work for public agencies (Highland Council, Employment Services, etc), they are on the committee as individuals, not as representatives of those organisations.
Involvement expanded considerably after the project moved to its existing premises, which have much more space for workshops and storage. The demand for commissioned work has also been expanding. As waste disposal costs have risen, businesses have become more inclined to bring pallets to the project to reduce costs, rather than only to set them aside for collection.
Word of mouth is the main sources of interest, although a number of volunteers helped participate (as organisers) in the Highland Cross. The project has also received interest from the press coverage. Managing demand for products while maintaining the ethos of the project is seen as more of an issue than generating demand.
LESSONS
Robust business planning!
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