Repurposing donated tools and sewing machines to transform lives in Africa

URGENT.  Donate an unwanted sewing machine  - Click here for details 

Medway Volunteer Workshop in Kent is an independent local initiative to help a national charity, Tools with a Mission (TWAM), headquartered in Ipswich. 

TWAM supports, in a practical way, people in Africa by refurbishing donated tools and sewing machines and creating the tool kits necessary to turn training into a livelihood. 

There is more demand in Africa than Ipswich can meet, so they have been encouraging the formation of self-funded local organisations throughout the UK to increase refurbishment capacity.  Opened in spring 2019, Medway Volunteer Workshop in Chatham, is one of these centres.

Can you help with this worthwhile work by volunteering time, donating items or helping with running costs?

Medway Volunteer Workshop works with Tools with a Mission who collect unwanted tools, computers and sewing machines across Kent, reusing them instead of going to landfill.  These are refurbished and compiled into trade kits, which are sent to Africa to equip people who have recently completed training schemes so they can earn a sustainable living.   

Our Kent workshop refurbishes all types of donated tools for plumbers, builders, mechanics and electricians but we specialise in carpenter kits and sewing machines. Tools with a Mission (TWAM) include these in the 20+ containers they ship to Africa every year, each filled with over 10 tonnes of tools and sewing machines.

Join our band of volunteers at Chatham. 

We already have over twenty five volunteers, between them manning the workshop for five mornings and two afternoons a week, and need to increase this number so we can operate for five full days each week.  

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