Building opportunities start here

We equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to create resilient livelihoods, strong communities, and sustainable working futures.

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Christmas Tool & Haberdashery Sale

Come along to our annual Christmas Tool & Haberdashery Sale this November!

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18,500+

Life-changing skills learnt through our training projects

400+

Staff and volunteers keeping our work moving across the UK

15,700+

Tools sent this year to support workshops and small businesses

40+

Community projects supported across the UK and Africa

We are Tools For Self Reliance

We are a charity supporting people in Africa to learn a trade, earn a living and build brighter futures. We provide volunteering opportunities and practical projects here in the UK.

What we do

We help people build lasting change.

In Africa, we fund training that enables individuals to learn a trade and earn a living. In the UK, volunteers refurbish donated tools, giving them new purpose, and we also support national projects and apprenticeships here at home.

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Where we work

Working locally in Africa, powered by volunteers in the UK

We work in Ghana, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia, partnering locally to provide skills training and toolkits. In the UK, our Netley Marsh headquarters supports volunteers nationwide who refurbish donated tools and fundraise to help make this work possible.

View our work in Africa View our work in the UK

Support us

Your support can change lives

Every donation helps someone take their first steps towards a sustainable working future. We receive no government funding, and it’s people like you who make our work possible. By giving today, you’ll help provide training, and opportunities – the tools for people to build secure, independent livelihoods.

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Stay connected with us

Sign up for our emails to hear stories from our projects, see the difference vocational training is making, and keep up with news, events and ways to get involved.

Donate tools

Your support can change lives

Please bring your tools, sewing machines, haberdashery items and plywood to our Netley Marsh workshops on Mondays and Tuesdays, between 10am – 4pm. Take a look at our ‘Tools We Need‘ list to find out how your donations can best support our work.

Please give us a call first on 02380 869697 to make sure we’re ready to help. We also have a network of volunteer collectors across the country – contact us to find out if there is a collector in your area.

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Other programmes

Our programmes combine practical training and community-led support to improve wellbeing and long-term opportunities.

Vocational Training

Practical skills that lead to lasting, independent livelihoods.

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Transition to Work

Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

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Business Development

Helping small enterprises grow, thrive, and create local opportunity.

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Agriculture

Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

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UK Programme

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Donate to support

Donate today and empower communities to create lasting change. Your support provides opportunities that help build brighter, more secure working futures.

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