Renew and Repurpose: Saturday Afternoons

Renew and Repurpose is a course to upskill participants in furniture restoration and refurbishment, aimed at people on low income, or currently not in work.

Over six weeks, you will learn how to repair and restore furniture to create beautiful pieces that can be used for years to come. Individually and as a group you will restore items that you can take home, or restore pieces that will be donated to residents experiencing furniture poverty reducing items to landfill

Through supportive sessions you are invited to learn new skills and learn the basics of furniture restoration and refurbishment. Group numbers are small and no previous experience is needed.

Course will cover:

Week 1: How to assess furniture for restoration and basic repairs

Week 2: Surface preparation and stripping of furniture

Week 3: Wax finishing, polishing and care

Week 4: Oils and staining

Week 5: How to prep and paint furniture

Week 6: Recap of processes and upcycling

This course is run in partnership with Fabrica and The Wood Store. Fabrica is a space where everyone can take part in the arts. For over 25 years Fabrica has strived to remove barriers to access, supporting people to connect through creativity via person-centred, co-produced provisions with health and wellbeing at their core.

The Wood Store is a charity all about people and our environment. We reclaim timber, reduce waste and ensure this valuable resource is made available for reuse. In our workshop our volunteers make furniture, learn new skills, gain confidence and enjoy being part of the team. We are part of the growing circular economy, reducing waste, reducing carbon, and enriching lives.

Please note, by making this booking, you are booking all 6 sessions:

1pm – 4pm Saturday 11 May 

1pm – 4pm Saturday 18 May 

1pm – 4pm Saturday 25 May 

1pm – 4pm Saturday 1 June 

1pm – 4pm Saturday 8 June 

1pm – 4pm Saturday 15 June 

Sessions are free to participants on low income or jobseekers allowance with a suggested cost of £18 per course if able to contribute.

We ask that you can attend all 6 sessions in this course. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible so we can release your space for someone on the waiting list.

If you have any questions or would like to reserve a place by talking to a member of the team, Contact Lucy on [email protected] or call Fabrica on 01273 778646

Sessions will be held at:

The Wood Store, Oakley House, Edward St, Brighton BN2 0BA

What to wear:

Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dust or paint on. (aprons and PPE will be provided) Closed toe shoes. We recommend you dress warmly in layers.

Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided.

This course is funded by Rampion Fund and is for people on a low income, experiencing isolation, or not currently in work. Group numbers are small and no experience is needed.

(Above) Photo credit: Phoebe Wingrove

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Wood Store Brighton (Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project), Edward Street, Brighton, United Kingdom