We currently work with partners based in 5 countries in Africa, creating opportunities for young people to learn and earn an income from a trade.
Our partners work with their local communities to identify which trades are needed. We work with our partners to develop vocational and business skills projects, enabling trainees to graduate ready to build successful enterprises.
An integral element of all our overseas projects is the provision of tools. Our partners tell us what tools they need to deliver the training programme and ensure graduates are given the tools they need to start earning an income and build a working future. Meanwhile, our UK programme supports students and apprentices starting out in trade.
You can help by donating the good quality tools we need for our training projects in Africa and our Apprentice Support programme in the UK. Take a look at our lists below to see which tools we need.
Download the full list of tools we need
We are currently in need of electrical tools and good quality hand tools to support our carpentry, bricklaying, welding and electrical installation & solar repair projects.
We can accept clean, good quality dressmaking material, fabric bolts, large offcuts and remnants, and haberdashery items.
We are also in need of overlockers/sergers to support our tailoring trainees.
If you’d like to check whether we can accept your tools, please call us on 02380 869697.
At the present time we are fully stocked and unable to accept any more manual or electric sewing machines or treadles.
We cannot accept donations of:
Donated tools, sewing machines and haberdashery items are carefully sorted and refurbished by our dedicated teams of volunteers. If you would like to join the team in the workshops or haberdashery department, please email fundraising@tfsr.org.
Where possible, we ship tools from the UK to our project partners overseas. You can support the cost of our tool shipment by making a donation here.
It is not always possible or cost effective to ship tools to our projects in Africa. Some countries do not accept the importation of second-hand tools (e.g. Uganda), and where tools are readily available in-country to support trades (e.g. hairdressing), we supply partners with the funds to acquire tools locally.
These funds are raised in part by selling excess or unsuitable tools at our Netley Marsh tool sale events, regional shows, through online platforms and in our own shop. Visit our Events page and eBay page for details of upcoming tools events and items for sale.
If you have tools that will help support our work, please bring them to our Netley Marsh workshop on Monday or Tuesday, 10am – 4pm or call us on 02380 869697 for details of a volunteer collector or refurbishing group in your area.
