Questions?

No. We are delighted to see absolute beginners as well as seasoned experts. Everyone can learn something and start to achieve satisfying results, starting from wherever they are.

No. Handcrafted is open to people of all genders and backgrounds.

Most of our activities are mixed, while some sessions are designed around particular needs or experiences, including women-only sessions and support for young people and care leavers.. We aim to make everyone feel welcome and will work with each person to identify the support and activities that are right for them.

No. Most of our trainees attend on days of the week that suit them or might only come along occasionally. However, there is a limit to how many places we can provide each day. We may need to discuss with you which days would be best, so that places can be allocated fairly if there is a high demand for them.

Come and make things at one of our workshops, get to know us and give us the opportunity to get to know you. We want to help people find the right home for them: somewhere in a suitable location, with people they can live well alongside, and where they have the best chance of settling and staying.

We have a limited number of homes, so we may not be able to offer you accommodation straight away. However, by becoming involved in one of our hubs, you can access practical activities, a supportive community and help with more than just housing. We can get to know you, understand what support you need and, when a suitable property becomes available, we may be able to offer you a Handcrafted home.

You may also have the opportunity to help renovate the home you move into, making it feel like much more than just a roof and four walls. The best way to start is to become part of the Handcrafted community through one of our hubs or workshops.

If you are an organisation supporting someone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, you can refer them to Handcrafted using here.

No. We offer a range of activities, and your training can be shaped around your interests, goals and the pace that works for you. On your first day, you will have an induction and talk with us about what you would like to do.

In woodworking, for example, you may begin with a simple project such as a chopping board or bird box. This helps you learn how to use the tools and machinery safely and start building your skills. After that, you can work under supervision on projects that interest you, learning new skills as you go.

We also offer a growing number of structured, accredited courses that lead to a recognised certificate. These have been developed partly in response to requests from trainees, including people who may not have had a positive experience of education in the past but would like a qualification they can add to their CV.

These courses are optional. You are equally welcome to come along, take part in practical activities and create something at your own pace.

Handcrafted was born out of a desire to see isolated people connected and those who had lost confidence in themselves reconnect with a future that had possibilities. It was founded by Dan Northover who, as a Christian was frustrated that while his faith had a hopeful perspective, people had given up hope for many of those who needed it most.

Being a Christian organisation means that we operate out of values of love, restoration and community; Every human is of equal worth, the past is forgiven, and we are better off together than alone. It is part of our Christian outlook that insists we are not here to discriminate between individuals, whether they have any particular faith or no faith, and we are not here to persuade or pressure anyone to change their personal convictions.

Describing how this looks from our trainees’ point of view, Tom said:

I heard they were a local charity doing woodwork and gardening that had been started by some people who went to one of the local churches. This made me wonder if it would be all Bible-thumping and singing ‘Kum ba yah’. I couldn’t have been more wrong! All of the team and the lads that went along were perfectly normal and just wanted to help people get on and do practical stuff.

You can buy Handcrafted products through our online shop.

Our shop includes a range of gifts and practical products, such as wooden pens made in our workshops, clothing screen-printed in Chester-le-Street, and items made from recycled plastic in Gateshead.

Our products are made or hand-printed by our trainees, and all proceeds support Handcrafted’s work with people facing homelessness and social exclusion.

Yes. We take on bespoke commissions for individuals, businesses and organisations.

We can create almost anything made from wood, including tables, market carts, planters, benches, bowls, shelving units, storage boxes, kitchen utensils, chopping boards, branded coasters, plaques and presentation boxes. Items can be made to measure and designed around your requirements, whether you need furniture, a practical product, a business gift or something for a special event or milestone.

We also offer custom printing on clothing and textiles, including work uniforms, aprons, T-shirts, hoodies and tote bags. These can be produced for businesses, events, community groups or staff teams.

We will work with you to agree the design, materials, price and timescale. What we can offer will depend on the size and complexity of the commission and our workshop capacity.

Email us at info@handcrafted.com and tell us what you need.