What are the opening hours?

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

Tools with a Mission

Home
United Kingdom
Ipswich
Tools with a Mission

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

03/09/2026

The wonderful Duncan and Andy recently represented Tools With A Mission at the Vintage Sports-Car Club (VSCC) Prescott Hill Climb! 🚗🧰

There, they participated in an autojumble, reselling and rehoming vintage tools unsuitable to be sent to Africa - thus raising crucial funds, and spreading awareness of TWAM's recycling ethos! ♻

Thanks to volunteers like them, Tools With A Mission is able to rehome more and more unique tools right here in the UK, all to support our core work of creating livelihoods 🇬🇧🥰

Thank you Duncan and Andy!

01/09/2026

Another month, another container of tools! 🚢❤️

815 toolkits and specialised tools are now en-route to Zambia in Container 'Tony', named after our long-serving volunteer Tony in Rugby (pictured here with the packing team)! 🔨⚙️🧰🇿🇲

Communities and trainees in Zambia will receive:

111 electric sewing machines
61 computers
46 power tool kits
41 carpentry kits
25 haberdashery or knitting kits
22 mechanics or garage kits
20 boxes of drill parts
18 packs of saws
13 knitting machines
10 welding kits
10 gardening kits
7 electricians kits
6 treadles
6 angle grinders
And many large tools, such as a band saw and strimmer! 💪

26/08/2026

RUGBY SUPPORTERS!

Due to bad weather predicted, we have cancelled our usual monthly Tool Yard Sale at our Rugby refurbishment centre, as originally planned for Saturday 29th August.

We apologise for any inconvenience - but look forward to welcoming you next month! ⛈🧰🛠

25/08/2026

We are grateful to the team at ETC Supplies, who have donated over 4000 bobbins of thread to tool charities across the UK - including TWAM 🧵✂

Many of these will be used in our haberdashery packs and sewing kits, ready to help train others and create livelihoods 💪❤

ETC Supplies write "we’re delighted to support [TWAM's] work in developing practical skills, creating opportunities and building brighter futures."

Our deepest thanks for this generous support! 🥰

21/08/2026

A reminder that our rescheduled National TWAM Day and Annual General Meeting will be held in Rugby in one month's time - on Saturday 19th September! ⚒️❤️

We look forward to welcoming our community of supporters, benefactors, and volunteers to this special day. You are invited to click here to RSVP, if you haven't already 👉 https://forms.gle/A71N3hyUjxVCnzFo8

18/08/2026

🧵 7,000 SEWING MACHINES! 🧵

TWAM Midlands have just refurbished their 7,000th sewing machine. A fantastic milestone for everyone involved!

Beginning in Coventry in 2008, before moving to Rugby in 2022, TWAM has carefully refurbished thousands of sewing machines of all kinds, ready to help people develop skills, earn an income and build sustainable jobs.

And of course, 7,000 machines means 7,000 reasons to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has donated sewing machines; thank you to everyone who has helped clean, repair, and test them; and, most of all, thank you to the brilliant volunteers (such as Helen, Dunstan, Nick, and Chris, pictured with the very special sewing machine) who work hard in our workshop week after week👏

We couldn’t have done it without you. ❤️

17/08/2026

Weird and Wonderful Tool of the Week #24 ⚒️👀 and a particular unusual tool this time - a set of hand-operated metal hair clippers 💇‍♂️💈

Featuring a spring-loaded, dual-lever scissor grip and a comb-like cutting edge, this is an amazing and unique donation - nobody here had seen anything like it! ✂

However, the year stamped (1944) suggests it may have been used in the military. The team will probably rehome it here in the UK, to raise funds for our work 🤲

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

06/08/2026

After building a successful career as an electrical engineer in Lusaka, David made a remarkable decision. In 2022, he returned home to rural Solwezi with one goal: to pass his skills on to others.

After receiving TWAM tools in 2022, today he trains young men in all aspects of vehicle maintenance at Mentra Youth, where there are no tuition fees. Many of the trainers, including David, were once students themselves, creating a powerful cycle of learning that keeps skills alive for generations 🔧🧰

Pictured centre with five of his students - including his cousin Abel, with his arm around David's shoulder - David believes practical training is the key to creating lasting opportunities ⚙🚗

But why did he give up a prosperous future and return to Solwezi? Well, his answer is simple: "I came back because I wanted the opportunity to empower young people with the same skill I was given." 💪🤲

05/08/2026

Two shipments of tools to Africa are going to be named after volunteers Keith and Judith, in recognition of 18 years of refurbishing tools! 🧰🚢

First is Container 'Judith', bound for Uganda, most likely containing refurbished items they would have both worked on.

872 toolkits and specialised tools are now bound for charities, schools, and training centres around Entebbe! 🧡💪

03/08/2026

We have been awarded a Commonwealth Environment & Corporate Social Responsibility Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026.

Selected from over 400 entries worldwide, TWAM was given this award in the category of Best Environmental Improvement, for our ongoing commitment to rehoming, recycling, and reuse ♻🥈🏆

It was a pleasure to attend the ceremony in Glasgow on July 31st, and to connect with guests and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth, many of whom have heard of TWAM's work in Africa 🌍

We have also been offered Green World Ambassador/CSR World Leader status, counted amongst the international leaders on environmental/CSR best practice.

Our deepest thanks to The Green Organisation, the Commonwealth Environment and CSR Awards, and to all who made this possible and believe in us 💚

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/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tools with a Mission posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Tools with a Mission:

Want your organisation to be the top-listed Non Profit Organisation in Ipswich?