Tools

TWAM (Tools With a Mission)

TWAM is a UK charity based in Ipswich, Suffolk, with a mission to empower people in Africa living in extreme poverty to create their own livelihoods. They do this by sending trade kits full of tools that are used in skills training centres, offering the trainees a way to put poverty in the past for good and begin their own sustainable careers.

They send around 18 containers to rural African communities every year, full of tools that have been collected from across the UK, and refurbished in their refurbishment centres. To find out how you can donate your tools, click here.

Workaid - Tools for Life

Workaid is a charity based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire empowering young people in Africa (and the UK) to help themselves by developing the skills and knowledge needed to find gainful employment or start their own business. They do this by refurbishing donated tools to a high standard and shipping them to training centres and self-help organisations. In 2015 they received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Every year they send enough tools to help 9000 people learn the skills they need to help themselves out of poverty.

Donations can only be received at their workshop in Chesham on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They accept carpentry tools, sewing machines, gardening tools, haberdashery, knitting machines, knitting equipment, metalworking, heavy machinery, hand tools and lawnmowers. To make an appointment click here. If you are unable to take your items to the workshop, they will accept deliveries via courier. They also operate a collection service on occasion; to see if this option is available to you, call Tina on 01494 775220.

Tools for Self Reliance

Tools for Self Reliance accept any good quality hand tools or industrial quality 240v electric tools for:

• carpenters

• builders

• metalworkers

• shoe repairers

• mechanics

• plumbers

• electricians

• dressmaking materials and haberdashery

• hand operated and treadle machines

• some electric sewing machines, must be in good working order

• overlockers

They send tools to Africa in response to requests from their partners, who tell them the types of tools they need, and the trades which are in demand. As the tools will be used to help people earn a living they need to be good quality and in good working order.

They are open to accept tool donations only on Monday and Tuesdays (10:00am – 4:00pm). If you are making a special trip, or travelling a long distance, please give us them call first on 02380 869697. This is their address:

Tools for Self Reliance
Ringwood Road
Netley Marsh
Southampton
SO40 7GY

They also have a network of volunteer collectors across the country who can collect donations – to find out if there is a collector in your area, please contact the charity.