New home means 'big ambitions' for wood enterprise

Six men and women stand outside the new premises. They stand below a sign of the recycling group. They are leaning against the building and are smiling at the camera.

Image source, Wolverhampton Wood RecyclingImage caption,

The group collects wood from sites across the region, co-founder Eimert De Graff, fourth from left, said

ByCaroline GallWest Midlands

Published21 minutes ago

A wood recycling group's move to bigger premises means "bigger ambitions" and helping more people volunteer and learn new skills, its founders said.

Wolverhampton Wood Recycling (WWR) turns waste wood into a range of items for sale and offers a bespoke service, thanks to its team of volunteers from its new home on Webner Industrial Estate in Wolverhampton.

The larger space will lead to more community activities and new projects designed to bring people together, including plans for a Repair café and a Men's Shed, Jim Brennan from the social enterprise said.

"We want this to be a place where people can come along, learn, share their skills, meet others and feel that they belong," he said.

Brennan launched the community interest company with co-founder Eimert De Graff with about nine volunteers at the end of last year.

"When we started, we knew we wanted to do something about wood waste, but we also knew there was an opportunity to do something much bigger for our community," Brennan added.

"The move to bigger [premises] means we can take on more wood, but it also means we can welcome more people."

Jim and a woman stand inside their building both holding old rusty axes and laughing. They're leaning by a wall with wood, materials and other items around and behind them.

Image source, Wolverhampton Wood RecyclingImage caption,

The volunteers will make a wider range of items for sale, Brennan (l) said

The organisation liaises with businesses and construction companies to collect, sort and recycle their wood waste, "giving materials a new lease of life wherever possible".

Visitors will be able to buy a wider selection of reclaimed wood, as well as items such as benches, bin stores and planters.

The group is particularly keen to support people who may be experiencing loneliness, retirement or living with health condition which affected their day-to-day life.

Gordon, who has volunteered with WWR since its inception, said: "I am a skilled wood machinist living with health conditions that currently limit my ability to undertake paid employment.

"I started volunteering because I wanted something to do and to get out of the house. I never expected it to become such an important part of my week.

"You meet people, you have a laugh, you learn things and feel like you're contributing."

De Graff said he was also excited at plans for the Repair Cafe and Men's Shed as they would bring people together.

"There are so many people in our communities who have incredible practical skills and experience but don't always have somewhere to use them," he said.

"We want to create that space."