Axewoods Community Support
11
The Pitch
Problem statement
The area served by SWW is a mixture of rural and urban areas with many active communities, seasonal attractions and a variety of employment opportunities. However, problems with rural isolation, loneliness, low wages, uncertain seasonal employment, a high elderly population and pockets of real deprivation are not always obvious. Fuel poverty is very high in rural areas - between 8-12% for Devon (11.1% national average) with Our project addresses many of these problems and dynamically offers direct and immediate help to individuals in need and to a range of local community action groups. We also teach woodland craft skills, mill timber for other community projects to combat loneliness.
Solution
Our Log Banks address local fuel poverty by supplying, free, dry, quality wood fuel to those in need. There is no bureaucracy, help is immediate. Our members also share their experience to help groups like Mens Sheds and Forestry Schools with skills, tools and materials. Our volunteers provide their own saws, equipment, fuel and transport, we provide PPE, industry standard safety and safeguarding. So we require funding for training, replacing tools, log deliveries and expenses. Offering skills workshops and teaching days require basic funding from grants and gifts. Impacts of these activities has already been noted across age, gender and demographics. We wish to expand our impact.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We have always shared ideas, experience, expertise and equipment with others. We have published articles and assisted others in promoting community and social forestry (we were featured on BBC Countryfile in 2019). Axewoods has assisted in the establishment of log banks in Northumberland, Hampshire and Torbay. Because all of our work is in the natural world, we can exploit the recognised benefits of spending time in nature with all who join in with us. Not only do those in need across the local community benefit, but our members and volunteers are finding a real outlet for enthusiasm, exercise, social contact , relief from loneliness and positive links to other local organisations.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| NPTC Level 2 Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting for 3 members | £750 |
| First Aid Training + Forestry for 4 members @ £75 each | £300 |
| Workshop fees and expenses for Woodland Skills Workshops @£150 each | £450 |
| Milage expenses for delivery of logs 500@50p/mile | £250 |
| Replacement green woodwork tools | £110 |
Beneficiaries
150 people
Expected impact
Our work impacts both individuals and groups across the local community: On the individual level, we help those in desperate need of logs throughout the winter and are expecting a serious increase in demand in the coming Autumn/Winter. We are working hard to prepare for that now. We keep records of 'official' deliveries (over 100 this year) but many more are made confidential by our members to local contacts Our own members benefit from social contact, regular exercise and enjoyment in the natural world, gain training and qualifications - plus obtaining logs for their own use. On a community level we can assure local agencies that we can support their clients with appropriate fuel. We have established local informal networks which ensure we can get logs to those who need them, but would not consider asking for help or involving other agencies. We assist private, charity and farmer woodland owners who could not afford to hire in contractors for management so wildlife benefit.
Track record
We have run 25 woodland management schemes across the region from small copses to Forestry England sites , National Trust woodlands and DCC sites. We have established the East Devon Log Bank and grown its reputation and efficiency over 6 years. Axewoods Co-operative has a members who bring vast experience and a wide range of professional skills. These include carpentry, green woodwork techniques, bushcraft, hedge laying, sustainability, health and safety, well-being, organising events, teaching, training and workshops. We ran 10 workshops spread over August to February offering these skills and attracted 80 people from both the wider community and from the partner organisations. The most successful aspect has been the modelling of good practice and allowing the management, staff and volunteers from other organisations to fully participate and see the potential for their own groups. We have targeted the 'hard to reach' groups who often miss out on opportunities for work in nature.