The Woodshed Project

07/09/2026

Really pleased to see The Woodshed Project featured in the Summer / Autumn edition of The Barnstaple Chronicles.

Thank you to Barnstaple Town Council for giving us the opportunity to introduce the project and share a little about what we are working towards.

A lot has moved forward since this was written, including securing further funding, completing our first community projects and continuing to build relationships with local organisations.

It is encouraging to see The Woodshed Project beginning to take its place within the local community.

Thank you to Barnstaple Town Council for their early support of the project and for helping us get to this point.

27/08/2026

🔨 More great news for The Woodshed Project!

We’re delighted to share that The Woodshed Project has been awarded £1,000 through the Philip J Milton & Company Plc 40th Anniversary Legacy Awards.

The funding will go towards essential woodworking equipment for our new community workshop, helping us create a safe, professional space where people facing disadvantage can learn practical skills, build confidence and routine, and experience the sense of achievement that comes through making.

As a new project, support like this makes a real difference. Every piece of equipment brings us another step closer to getting the workshop up and running and welcoming our first participants.

A huge thank you to Philip J Milton & Company Plc for choosing to support The Woodshed Project and for investing in projects making a difference here in North Devon.

We’re really grateful to have you behind us.

20/08/2026

From an idea to a finished mocktail bar!

Earlier this summer, The Woodshed Project worked with young people at Barnstaple Youth House to create a new mocktail bar for the space.

The project developed from ideas shared through a co-production process with Barnstaple Town Council Youth Council. Across two sessions, 15 young people took part, helping to turn those ideas into something practical that can continue to be used and enjoyed at the Youth House.

This is exactly the sort of work The Woodshed Project is being developed to do: bringing people together through purposeful making and creating something useful for the wider community.

A big thank you to Barnstaple Town Council, and to Encompass Southwest through the MyWay project, for jointly funding the work—and to all the young people and staff who helped bring it to life.

14/08/2026

A slightly different kind of unboxing video… and some very good news to go with it!

The Woodshed Project has been awarded £20,000 by The National Lottery Community Fund through National Lottery Awards for All.

This is a huge step forward in establishing The Woodshed Project in Barnstaple. The funding will support the set-up of the project and the delivery of an initial 14-week pilot. Through structured and supportive woodworking sessions, people facing significant barriers will be able to develop practical skills, confidence, routine and connection through making.

Alongside preparing for the pilot, we’re continuing to explore options for a suitable long-term home in central Barnstaple—a dedicated workshop where The Woodshed Project can put down roots and grow. Having this funding in place brings that vision a significant step closer.

A huge thank you to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Community Fund for believing in what we’re building.

Now we just need to find the banner a long-term home…

11/07/2026

Spent the last couple of days at The Planetary Lab making and building, what a lot of fun it’s been :)

19/06/2026

Great to be partnering with Encompass Southwest and Barnstaple Town Council to deliver these sessions for The Youth Hangout…

“Woodworking Workshops - 7th and 14th July at the Youth House in Barnstaple, 3.30-6pm! 🪵🔨✏️
James from the Woodshed Project is facilitating two workshops to help us build a mocktail bar, as requested by the young people in Barnstaple!
⭐️11-17 year olds welcome
⭐️Sign up (email us or pop into the Youth House on a Tuesday 3.30-6pm) or drop in on the day
⭐️Feel free to share with friends and any young people you know

This will be a great addition to our outdoor space, in the summer we can learn to make mocktails and other food and drink preparation! 🌞 “

Woodworking Workshops - 7th and 14th July at the Youth House in Barnstaple, 3.30-6pm! 🪵🔨✏️
James from the Woodshed Project is facilitating two workshops to help us build a mocktail bar, as requested by the young people in Barnstaple!
⭐️11-17 year olds welcome
⭐️Sign up (email us or pop into the Youth House on a Tuesday 3.30-6pm) or drop in on the day
⭐️Feel free to share with friends and any young people you know

This will be a great addition to our outdoor space, in the summer we can learn to make mocktails and other food and drink preparation! 🌞

23/04/2026

Earlier this week I attended ‘s Annual Residents’ Meeting at the Guildhall, where The Woodshed Project was awarded its first ever grant of £3,000.

Thank you so much to Barnstaple Town Council for this support. It will make a real difference to the project and help fund our pilot workshop, where people who have faced challenges such as homelessness, addiction, poor mental health, or involvement with the criminal justice system will be able to learn woodworking in a supportive environment.

A really encouraging milestone for the project. Watch this space!

James Moss
Project Lead

23/04/2026

Earlier this week I attended Barnstaple Town Council's Annual Residents’ Meeting at the Guildhall, where The Woodshed Project was awarded its first ever grant of £3,000.

Thank you so much to Barnstaple Town Council for this support. It will make a real difference to the project and help fund our pilot workshop, where people who have faced challenges such as homelessness, addiction, poor mental health, or involvement with the criminal justice system will be able to learn woodworking in a supportive environment.

A really encouraging milestone for the project. Watch this space!

James Moss
Project Lead

17/03/2026

Just a quick update…

I’m very grateful that Barnstaple Town Council has awarded £3,000 to support the first pilot of The Woodshed Project.

This funding will enable us to run an 8-week pilot workshop, testing the model and providing a structured, supportive woodworking environment for people rebuilding their lives after experiences such as homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges, or involvement with the criminal justice system.

It’s an encouraging early step, and I’m grateful to Barnstaple Town Council for their support.

Watch this space!