Over 100 young people upskilled thanks to Toolstation

As one of Britain’s fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies, we began working with Toolstation in 2021. This expanded our partnership across the Travis Perkins Group, working together to help build a future pipeline of talent in the construction industry, and helping to delivery on the Group’s purpose to build better communities and enrich lives.

Toolstation help to fund young people’s participation on our projects through funding for mentoring and their accreditations, whilst also donating tools, materials and colleagues volunteering on our projects.

Here’s a round-up of our first year with them.

Project #1: Coventrians Rugby Club, Coventry

We kicked off with 28 young people gaining 26 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations between them over three weeks at the Coventrians Rugby Club project. Work centred on building a new outdoor social and activity space, to enable the club to host more events to boost their own income and refurbish the changing facilities. See this project in action here via social media superstars, On The Tools.

Project #2: YMCA Dickerage, New Malden

We then headed down to New Malden, where Toolstation had recently opened a new store. Wishing to connect with the local community, we transformed the local YMCA Youth Centre in Dickerage.

Daniel Slocombe, Centre Manager for YMCA Dickerage, said: “This is the most excited I’ve been since working here – the refurbishment will make a huge difference to young people and their lives… Community is so important and after COVID-19, the centre is helping bring everybody together… It is more multicultural and multi-generational than ever before.“

Project #3: Southbrook Community Centre, Daventry

Third time lucky and indeed we were, as we were joined by Northampton Saints rugby players Alex Waller and Tom Wood, friends of Toolstation who are sponsors of the club. They came down to help put the finishing touches to our project at Southbrook Community Centre, on their Northamptonshire doorstep in Daventry, building the tables for the community cafe. More on this project in Northants Live.

Project #4: Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club, Manchester

We then headed north to renovate the changing rooms at Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club in Manchester, with the help of some of the young local boxers too! Head Coach Martyn Lynch has been overwhelmed by the help and results of the work completed:

“This is fantastic what Zamir and Simon and all the young volunteers are doing for our Middleton Select Boxing Club… all of us at our club cannot thank you all enough for everything, this means the absolute world to me and all our kids and some of them have helped out which is great.” 

Project #5: Wembdon Village Hall, Bridgwater

This time we headed down to Toolstation territory near their HQ in Bridgwater, Somerset, and began work on a large project spanning six months at Wembdon Village Hall. Over 103 days, the new youth space was completed following the erection of new walls, installation of storage, laying of underfloor flooring, plastering of walls, and decorating. More on this project in the Bridgwater Mercury.

Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing for Toolstation, champions VIY and volunteered at Wembdon: “We are really proud to support the Volunteer It Yourself programme and to help young people learn practical trade and building skills and earn a qualification. The construction sector is facing a shortage of workers and we hope that this initiative will inspire more young people to consider entering the trades.”

Another volunteer from The Amber Foundation in Devon, Vanessa-Mae Watson, became our 500th volunteer with Sport England here too.

We look forward to working with Toolstation and the wider Travis Perkins Group on more projects throughout 2022 – stay tuned!