Community Partners
Share your skills and help young people build their futures.
Local People, Real Skills
At the heart of The Walden Shed is a simple belief: young people benefit from positive relationships with adults in their community who have real skills to share. We're actively looking for tradespeople, craftspeople, farmers, business owners, and skilled community members to get involved.
Your involvement shows young people that the community is willing to invest in them. It provides real-world skills, introduces them to working environments, and can open doors to work experience, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
Over time, these relationships can transform how young people see themselves and how the community sees them — from problems to be managed into contributors to be valued.
Who We're Looking For
Tradespeople
Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, builders, mechanics, and other skilled trades.
Craftspeople
Woodworkers, metalworkers, potters, artists, and other creative makers.
Farmers & Growers
Farmers, groundskeepers, gardeners, and those working with animals or the land.
Business Owners
Local employers who can offer work experience, placements, or mentoring.
Ways to Get Involved
Share Skills at The Shed
Come into The Walden Shed and work alongside young people, teaching practical skills and sharing your expertise in a supportive environment.
Offer Work Experience
Provide supervised work experience placements for young people, giving them a taste of real working environments and helping build their confidence.
Create Pathways
Work with us to create pathways into apprenticeships or employment for young people who show commitment and potential.
Mentoring
Build an ongoing relationship with a young person, providing guidance, encouragement, and support as they develop their skills and confidence.
Donate Materials
If you have surplus materials, tools, or equipment that could be used for hands-on activities, we'd love to hear from you.
Spread the Word
Know other tradespeople or businesses who might be interested? Help us grow our network of community partners.
What's Involved
Becoming a community partner is straightforward. Here's what you need to know:
- Time commitment: Flexible — from occasional visits to regular involvement
- DBS check: Required for regular contact with young people (we can help arrange this)
- Training: We'll provide a safeguarding briefing and introduction to our approach
- Support: Our team will be present and support you throughout
- Insurance: Young people are covered by our insurance when at The Shed
You don't need to be a teacher or have any experience working with young people — just a willingness to share your skills and treat young people with respect and patience.
"The long-term aim is for young people to move from being seen as a problem within the community to becoming contributors to it — and eventually mentors themselves."
Partner With Us
Interested in becoming a community partner? Email us at team@thewaldenshed.com
Please include the following details:
- Your name
- Business/trade name (if applicable)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Type of partner — e.g., Tradesperson, Craftsperson/Maker, Farmer/Grower, Business Owner, or Other Skilled Professional
- Skills or experience you could share — tell us about your trade, craft, or expertise
- How you would like to get involved — e.g., teaching skills at The Shed, offering work experience, mentoring