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Tools with a Mission

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Tools with a Mission

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We are a UK charity empowering communities in need by sending them refurbished tools kits to create a future for themselves. 🌍

We usually send 18 containers filled with around 225 tonnes of tools every year, keeping them out of UK landfills. We invest in local people supporting their own communities through livelihood creating projects such as skills training centres. We have sent tools to 17 countries across the world. Now we focus our efforts on livelihood creation in Sub-Saharan Africa. To find out more, visit www.twam.uk

28/10/2026

For the third year running, we’re delighted to be partnering with Rugby Christmas Cracker and its much-loved pop-up café, Crackerteria, in Rugby Central! ❤️🎄🎅

Come and vist us in the old Boots store, Rugby Central! Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am–2pm, Friday 27 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026.

You will discover a range of new and pre-owned tools, available to buy at bargain prices!

Every tool sold helps fund our main mission - to equip people in Africa with the skills and tools they need to build sustainable livelihoods ⚒️🪚🧰

And while you’re there, why not stop at Crackerteria for a hot drink, a light lunch or a tasty meal? Run by local charity Rugby Christmas Cracker, the café raises vital funds and awareness for women in the developing world, helping them develop livelihoods as seamstresses ♻️🌍

23/10/2026

October's second container of TWAM tools is on the road! 🇿🇲

Container 'David' is named after David Moseley, a much-loved volunteer who has decided to retire from TWAM at 90 years of age, after 25 years service 💪❤️

Container 'David' is extra-special as it is a 40-foot container, providing extra stock to our partners in Zambia. It contains 1,520 toolkits and specialised tools, including:

289 sewing machines and treadles
84 computers and laptops
47 knitting or haberdashery kits
26 knitting machines
7 angle or bench grinders
2 welding sets
313 trade kits, including carpentry, agriculture, and plumbing
35 kits of drills and power tools
5 wool winders
and many more! ❤️🚢🧰

22/10/2026

Meet Sylvester, a carpentry instructor at Mentra Youth Zambia.

A father of three, Sylvester left piecemeal day labour as a bricklayer to find a better way to provide for his children. But learning carpentry opened up new opportunities 🪚⚒️🪑

“I was only managing to send one child to school whilst I was a bricklayer, but I can send them all to school now.”

Today, all three of Sylvester’s children attend school, and he has even bought a plot of land where he has begun building his own home 💪🏡

And his ambitions go beyond his own success. Sylvester hopes to pass his carpentry skills on to his young son, who comes to work with him. He wants his daughter to learn a skill such as tailoring, which would allow her to follow her dream and pay for training as an emergency nurse 🌍🧰

"I want to give my children a skill too, so that they can be self-sustaining and not depend on the government," he says.

And it is thanks to you that Sylvester's life has been transformed! So far in 2026, 850 carpentry kits have been created and sent to groups like Mentra Youth. Each one will train many other people like Sylvester.

On his behalf - thank you! ❤️

20/10/2026

Earlier this year, TWAM's spring appeal raised funds to send tools to Tanzania, in partnership with Tools For Solidarity 🌍 the aim was to equip a special project, the Dodoma Artisanal Support Training Centre, with the tools needed for training.

Now, we are delighted to announce that the training centre is OPEN! 🥳 click below for a video tour - some of you might even recognise the tools!

Tanzanian craftsmen and women now have the ability to turn their talents and passions into sustainable income and transferable skills, in tailoring, sculpture, metalworking, and more 🧵🪚⚒️

Thank you to EVERYONE who supported this project! ❤️💪

19/10/2026

Another container of TWAM tools is ready to be sent! 🇹🇿 🌍 ⚒️

The team are delighted to send Container 'Mirabel' to our charities, organisations, and other partners in Tanzania, with:

368 sewing machines and treadles
15 computers and laptops
29 knitting or haberdashery kits
63 trade kits, including carpentry, agriculture, and plumbing
12 kits of drills and power tools
7 boxes of Bibles
and more! ❤️

Container 'Mirabel' was named by one of our staff, after a family member who recently celebrated their 30th birthday! 🥳 🧰

16/10/2026

Friday 16 October is National Reuse Day. This annual celebration of the simple yet powerful act of ‘reuse’ is organised by Freegle, the UK charity that helps people give and get things for free in their local community ♻️🌱🌍

This year, organisers are asking people to think about . They write: "when we reuse more, we waste less which is great news for people, purse and planet" - an ethos that TWAM shares!

As a 2025 Freegle Reuse Hero, TWAM celebrates ‘all things reuse’ on National Reuse Day through its work to save tools from waste, refurbish them economically, and give them a new home - in the UK and overseas 🛠️

Over 400 tonnes of tools are rescued by TWAM every year, saving at least 1,000 tonnes of CO2 from landfill.

Discarded power tools are tested and repaired. Rusty hammers and chisels are polished and cleaned. And someone's old sewing machine could be one of about 8,000 refurbished and sent to Africa. We make full use of any donations - such as those in the TWAM van pictured! 🔨🧰🪡

Reusing things is a really easy and accessible way to cut waste, save money, help others and protect the planet. Help us celebrate by thinking carefully about what you throw away.

If you want to reuse your old tools by giving them to TWAM, call the office on 01473 210220 or visit www.twam.uk ❤️♻️

13/10/2026

The Kitgum Technical Institute provides vocational training and pastoral care for young people in Uganda. We sent them 23 toolkits as requested earlier this year 🌍 ⚒️ 🚢

Now, they have sent us a kind message of recognition!

"On behalf of everyone at Kitgum, I wish to express our sincere and heartfelt appreciation to TWAM UK for the extraordinary support extended...through the donation of tools and equipment," writes Mr. Kidega Albo, their Principal.

"This generous contribution...will go a long way in strengthening practical skills training. The tools will directly benefit some of our most vulnerable trainees, particularly those from disadvantaged families." 💪 ❤️

Our Uganda team were there to help upload the kits, including three sewing machines and two selection packs of power tools 🧵 🧰

"[You] represent an investment in the lives and future livelihoods of young people... we greatly appreciate the humanitarian spirit demonstrated by TWAM in supporting skills development in Uganda and around the world," Mr. Albo says.

"We wish the entire TWAM family continued success, good health, and fulfilment!" 😍

12/10/2026

A generous donation means our Rugby refurbishment centre has some good-quality swivel chairs going spare 🪑♻️

Free to a good home! If you are interested, please drop in to our Rugby office (6 Paynes Lane, CV21 2UH) M-F 8.30 - 4pm.

First come first served! 😍

09/10/2026

Weird and Wonderful Tool of the Week #26 ⚒️ 👀 - a tension-holding fly tying bobbin!

Research suggests that this tiny bit of gear could be an essential part of an angler's toolkit 🐟

They are used to hold, dispense, and control spools of thread, during the delicate process of tying artificial fishing flies, or lures.

This particular model, we think, is a saltwater bobbin - which means it would be used to create lures to catch sea bass, and other fish. A very unique find indeed! 🎣 🪡

This, and other vintage or collectible tools unsuitable for Africa, will be resold to raise funds. If YOU are a budding angler interested in buying something similar, pop in to our warehouses! Or visit our eBay page www.ebay.co.uk/usr/toolswithamissiontwamhq

Look out for more weird and wonderful tools we receive and reuse from our supporters and donations ❤️ 🌍 🛠️

Address

2 Bailey Close, Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate
Ipswich
IP20UD

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+441473210220

Website

http://twam.uk/

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