Volunteering with Touch Wood was a first step on the career ladder for Ben Fairhurst which led to an apprenticeship.
Ben Fairhurst first discovered Touch Wood through a Google search. He decided he needed a change and had been trying to find apprenticeships. He had applied for many but hadn’t been successful. He says he knew he needed experience to stand out from the crowd, so he returned to college to complete his Level 1 in Carpentry and Joinery, “I couldn’t start college until September and had a few months off so I searched for volunteering, trying to find something joinery related. I saw Touch Wood and got in contact to show my interest – I really liked the things Touch Wood were doing and their mission – I wouldn’t just be getting experience, I’d also be making a difference”. Very quickly after getting in touch with us, Ben became a Touch Wood volunteer.
Prior to volunteering with Touch Wood, Ben had very little experience in the field, he says his time with us really helped him: “Volunteering gave me much more than just joinery experience, it gave me more confidence, a sense of progression, I made friends and had the opportunity to work with some great, knowledgeable people.”
Volunteering was a gateway to other experiences
During his time at Touch Wood, Ben was able to experience many different tasks beginning with the basics: “When I first started, I was breaking down pallets and de-nailing, but it wasn’t long before I started doing more involved tasks. I would sand down timber for projects, cut down timber using various power tools. I built planters, chairs, chopping boards, tables, benches, shelves, sheds and loads more. I got to work on so many projects with the team like the gardens at Rochdale Infirmary, where we transformed an empty space into a beautiful garden area with fences, planters, seating areas and even a shed. I made timber deliveries using the vans. I would also take orders and process transactions for customers coming into Touch Wood”.
Improving self-confidence, interacting with customers and teamwork were benefits Ben experienced at Touch Wood as well as practical skills like using power tools and making things for customers. After volunteering for a while he was offered a paid job here, he explained “I was coming to the end of my Level 1 at college and was working at Tesco part-time. I had got to a point where I was a lot more competent and I really enjoyed coming in for my Touch Wood days. I was offered a job and didn’t hesitate to take it. At the time, while working part-time and doing 2 days at college, it really helped me financially. It also allowed me to spend more time at Touch Wood, which furthered my learning.”
“I learned so much volunteering and working for Touch Wood, I was shown how to use loads of different hand and power tools like the mitre saw, table saw, circular and plunge saw, drills, routers, planers, chisels, hammer, saws etc. I got better at taking measurements and working out areas. I also learned techniques like biscuit jointing. One thing I’m really grateful for was Emerge letting me use the workshop to make a chopping board as a gift for my mate’s wedding. I used what I’d learned from Touch Wood to make a beautiful chopping board using American walnut, maple and the exotic timber Padauk. I also learned lots about health and safety, making sure to use risk assessments and wore PPE.”
After around a year volunteering and working with us at Touch Wood, Ben was able to use his experience to take his next step on the career ladder. Ben says “After I completed my Level 1 at college, I applied for lots of apprenticeships, I got an interview with Wigan Council and got the job! I have no doubt in my mind that without Touch Wood, I wouldn’t have got that job. I am now an apprentice joiner at Wigan Council, I love every day of it! I am doing what I’ve wanted to do for so long. Every day I am learning new things and getting better.”
Interested in volunteering with Touch Wood?
We are always on the look-out for volunteers to come and join the operation at Touch Wood – you never know where it may lead you. From discovering a new hobby to using your time to help progress your career, volunteering is a great stepping-stone to your next chapter.
What would Ben say to someone thinking about coming to volunteer with us? “Do it! You will gain so much from it, you will meet amazing people and make lots of new friends and you’ll be making a difference – Touch Wood recycles and upcycles tonnes of wood that was destined for landfill”.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Touch Wood call 0161 223 8200 (Option 6) or email volunteering@emergemanchester.co.uk