Our workshops play a significant part in our residents’ and service users’ daily lives. They provide meaningful work-life balance. One day, Camphill residents suggested supporting a charity, and after much deliberation, our community chose Tools for Self Reliance (TfSR). We set up our Tools Workshop, which hosts the TfSR MK charity.

Camphill’s Tools Workshop gives our service users opportunities to develop creative projects using scrap materials generated through refurbishment processes, as well as tools deemed unsuitable for refurbishment. All of which are donated to our charity.

The workshop’s primary purpose has been to refurbish donated and unwanted tools to the highest possible standard. Each year, workshop participants restore around 1,000 tools each year contributing more than 30,000 tools to the cause. These tools are then sent to Tools for Self Reliance Southampton, HQ, and the collection point for all TfSR centres across the UK. They are then ready for distribution to African colleges and projects, helping disadvantaged individuals who couldn’t access education establish sustainable livelihoods in a variety of trades and supporting skills development, employment, and economic independence. African countries include Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia.

The Genesis of Guitars Project – Exhibited in the Camphill Cafe

We’re proud of our most recent project: The Genesis of Guitars. Created to celebrate Camphill’s 40th anniversary, participants created two unique commemorative guitars inspired by Camphill’s history and community.

One guitar, decorated with images selected by a resident, was stolen and later recovered, making it a particularly valued piece within the workshop. The project led to commissioned guitars, including a bespoke double-neck guitar and collaborative builds involving the Gardens and Arts & Crafts Workshop teams. Restored and custom-built guitars now proudly demonstrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and collaborative achievements of Camphill participants and staff.