Woodwork department helps build precious memories for Northumberland family

Over the past few years, we have been incredibly fortunate to receive a number of grants to help us expand and improve our woodwork department.

Previously housed within the Old Chandlery, the woodwork department now has its own dedicated space adjacent to The Woodfuel Centre to give our service users the opportunity to cross-train across the different departments. The additional space is also allowing us to take on bigger and increasingly complex commissioned projects.

Seven of our regular service users, Harvey, Philip, John, David, Lee, Malcolm and John have recently been involved in a fantastic project on behalf of a family in Northumberland who, having heard about Blyth Star Enterprises and what we do, wanted to see if we could help them to create a fun, interactive play space in their garden for their three-year old twins.

The project started with the creation of a bespoke mud kitchen. Comprising an integrated oven, workbenches and holders for various utensils, the mud kitchen is made almost entirely from recycled wood and was hand painted and treated for maximum durability!

The finished mud kitchen.

Impressed with the mud kitchen, the family then asked us whether we could build a play park that the twins could enjoy as they grow up. Using a design that they had found online as inspiration, we added some additional elements to create a custom frame complete with swings, a slide, a mini climbing wall, a bridge and lots of fun hideout spaces.

Blyth Star service users with the finished play park.

This one-off commission is a first-of-its-kind project for Blyth Star which has given our service users the opportunity to learn new skills and use a variety of new and different tools, as well as the chance to work in the community.

Speaking on behalf of the family, mum Emilia, commented:

“We were absolutely blown away by the play park that Neil and the team at Blyth Star Enterprises’ woodwork department created. The quality and the finish is second to none! I really can’t thank them enough.”

To find out more about the woodwork department, click here: https://blythstar.org.uk/woodwork-depot.

Neil.