Local HEROES

‘Empowering people is at the heart of what we do’

Katherine Mcdermott-darley, 62, an ex-management consultant, artist and sculptor, set up Budleigh Community Workshop in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, with her husband Bill, a retired colonel in the Royal Marines.

Bill loves working with wood and I am passionate about anything creative, from felting and sculpting to writing poetry. Our dream was to create a welcoming, inclusive space where anyone could come along to learn practical skills and express their creativity. We wanted to work on a project together, and had been talking about starting a workshop to serve the community for a couple of years. When the local fire station came up for sale in early 2020, we jumped at the chance to go and see it. As soon as we stepped inside, we knew it was perfect. It was right in the middle of town, the sturdy ground floor was suitable for heavy machinery and there was a lovely large space upstairs.

To raise the money to buy it, we established a charity and embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign: we printed thousands of leaflets, applied for grants, did local radio interviews and social media marketing, and launched a crowdfunding site. Fortunately, our career skills proved endlessly transferable, and we raised £425,000 within just seven months, which was way beyond anything we expected.

Much of our campaigning took place between March and September 2020, at the height of COVID-19, which actually helped – I think people really needed a sense of community. Most donations came from individuals giving anything from a few pounds to thousands. We have a board on the wall in the workshop displaying the names of everyone who donated, which will remain there forever.

We renovated the building ourselves with a core team of nine volunteers who have a fantastic range of skills, including plumbers, builders and electricians. It was hard physical work – but we opened in May 2021 and haven’t looked back. We’re here every weekday morning, with a team of 25 trained volunteers.

Downstairs, we teach practical skills like carpentry, woodwork, metalwork and DIY. Upstairs is calm and light-filled, with a big arched window where the sun pours in. Here we teach crafts like crochet, art, creative writing and upholstery.

We believe in empowering people – our motto comes from the Chinese sage Confucius: ‘Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand.’ That sits at the heart of everything we do. If someone asks if we can repair their chair, we say no – but come in and we will help you to do it.

We charge very little, and offer freely and discreetly for those who can’t afford to pay. My favourite class is our informal open-craft morning. People of all ages come together to work on their own projects and teach their skills, from knitting and crochet to spinning and needlework.

Seeing everyone so engaged creates a very special atmosphere. For anyone thinking of taking on a similar project, my advice is to have a clear objective, and avoid hierarchy and huge committees. Pursue every avenue for funding and don’t be afraid to ask – solicitors and accountants will often do pro bono work if approached.

✢ budleighcommunityworkshop. org.uk

‘People come here to learn new skills and be creative’