With Hugh woodworking seems more than a passion – it’s in his blood. He’s been working with wood all his life.
“My father had a workshop at home … I went to a technical school … studied woodwork and metalwork … and had regular woodworking lessons with the local village carpenter.”
“Woodwork runs in the family. I even inherited my great grandfather’s tools and workbench,“ he says.
Hugh Ridsill-Smith now runs HG Woodworks CIC, a community interest company which operates woodworking classes for individuals and groups.
He uses its profits to fund a community programme for the homeless and refugees and for people who need mental health support.
He moved the business to Ladywell, next door to HE Olby, the builder’s merchant on Lewisham High Street, in October last year after he was forced to leave his workshop in Leegate SE12.
After two months of hard work, he now has a well equipped workshop with an array of quality hand tools, electric tools and large machinery; a wood store; a library; and a kitchen area.
Hugh’s main focus is on running classes for people who want to learn about woodworking and work on a project of their choosing at their own pace.
“With the group classes you work alongside friendly, like-minded people … and no experience is necessary. It’s fun.”
The classes last for three hours and take a maximum of five people. “There’s always a qualified tutor present to advise on the work.” People book a minimum of three sessions.
“I also provide one to one sessions for people who want to learn a specific skill or need advice on a project.” Hugh also offers private one-off classes for a family or a group of friends and will take on commissions and repairs.
He is keen to develop “awayday team-building sessions” for groups and companies. “We can tailor a session that suits a team.” These classes help fund his community programme.
Hugh raises funds, sets up sponsorships and uses profits to offer specialist classes for people with additional needs (eg mental health and autism) and for marginalised groups such as the homeless or refugees.
He works with a network of charity and community partners including the Greenwich Homeless Project.
Hugh worked for many years as a design and technology teacher in London schools and in community education.
It is these teaching and coaching skills that he has brought to Woodworks which he set up in 2016.
After initially working in his cellar and garden he took a shop in the Leegate Shopping Centre in 2019.He worked on commissions and repairs for clients.
But in 2020 he set up Woodwork classes which have grown rapidly and make up a large part of his business.
Helping people develop their woodworking skills had been a long held ambition. “Most people can produce something of quality.”
With the move to Ladywell in 2024 he decided to become a CIC because it is more suited to his community works.
With the help of Lewisham council, an empty spaces grant and a supportive landlord in HE Olby, Hugh is embarking on the next stage of Woodworks’ development.
He knows that in the current economic environment life will be challenging. But he is optimistic he will be able to employ a tutor to help his work later in the year.
Above all, he is focused on creating a safe and welcoming environment where people can have a challenging and rewarding time learning new woodworking skills.
Details:
HG Wooworks CIC
299-301 Lewisham High St, London SE13 6NL
07957 118403
https://woodworks.org.uk/