Building opportunities start here

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

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

Find out more Find out more Find out more Find out more Find out more

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

Find out more

What our project is doing to meet this need

Our project with LYO provided 34 women with the opportunity to learn new skills in a vocational trade, business skills and life skills, which will enable them to develop a sustainable and regular income and make informed safe choices. In addition, ll young men were selected to join the project; males who are supporting women in vulnerable households where the woman herself cannot attend the training.

  • The final month of the project, trainees will gain work placement experience with artisans from established businesses in the area who themselves have received top-up vocational and business skills training with LYO.
  • As the project draws to a close, the participants will each received a certificate from TEVETA (the national authority which assesses and accredits vocational trainees), and a starter toolkit from Tools for Self Reliance.

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

Find out more

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

Find out more

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

Find out more

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

Find out more

Stay connected with us

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.


    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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    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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    Find out more

    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

    Other Programmes

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

    Transition to work

    Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

    Find out more
    Business Development

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

    Find out more
    Agriculture

    Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

    Find out more
    Vocational training

    Practical skills that lead to lasting, independent livelihoods.

    Find out more

    Other Programmes

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

    Transition to work

    Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

    Find out more
    Business Development

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

    Find out more
    Agriculture

    Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

    Find out more
    Vocational training

    Practical skills that lead to lasting, independent livelihoods.

    Find out more
    Title

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    Find out more

    Other Programmes

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

    Transition to work

    Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

    Find out more
    Business Development

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

    Find out more
    Agriculture

    Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

    Find out more
    Vocational training

    Practical skills that lead to lasting, independent livelihoods.

    Find out more

    Other Programmes

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

    Transition to work

    Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

    Find out more
    Business Development

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

    Find out more
    Agriculture

    Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

    Find out more
    Vocational training

    Practical skills that lead to lasting, independent livelihoods.

    Find out more
    Title

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet vel gravida incididunt.

    Find out more

    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.

    Find out more
    Transition to Work

    Supporting trainees into safe, stable, and meaningful employment.

    Find out more
    Business Development

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

    Find out more
    Agriculture

    Strengthening farming skills for food security and sustainable income.

    Find out more
    UK Programme

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    Find out more

    Other locations

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    Mawali

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    Find out more
    Uganda

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    Find out more
    Sierra Leone

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    Find out more
    Zambia

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    Find out more
    Ghana

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    Ghana

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    Sarah Ingleby

    Chief Executive

    A former teacher who changed career to work with VSO in Zambia for 4 years, Sarah returned to the UK and took up a post with Tools for Self Reliance.

    Cecily Bryant

    Africa Programme Manager

    Cecily first arrived in Africa over 25 years ago, living in a Zimbabwean village researching livelihoods and food insecurity.

    Name

    Job Title

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    Name

    Job Title

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    News

    Tool & Haberdashery Sales at our Netley Marsh Workshop

    Celebrate our on-site store’s 2nd birthday with us! We will have a great range of tools and haberdashery for sale, as well as...

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    Tools on Tour – Come and visit us!

    Come and visit us and find good quality refurbished tools for the home and garden, sewing machines, haberdashery and craft supplies.

    Find out more

    The Big Spring Quiz 2026

    It’s time to get your grey matter in gear for another super Tools for Self Reliance quiz and supper.

    Find out more

    Craft Workshops

    Our lovely Craft2Craft volunteers have been helping us raise funds for over 10 years! Join them on Thursdays for informal crafting workshops.

    Find out more

    Other Projects

    Malawi Case Study 6

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    Find out more

    Malawi Case Study 5

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    Find out more

    Malawi Case Study 4

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    Find out more

    Malawi Case Study 3

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    Find out more

    Where to find us

    Want to get in touch?




      Address

      Tools for Self Reliance
      Ringwood Road
      Netley Marsh
      Southampton
      SO40 7GY

      Contact

      Tel:023 8086 9697
      Fax: 023 8086 8544
      info@tfsr.org

      We are open Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
(with a lunch break from 1.00 to 2.00 pm)

      Meet Sabrina Update

      Published - 29/04/2026

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      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet morbi leo in ut quam sollicitudin luctus lectus iaculis mattis. Eiusmod mattis egestas eget integer dictum nunc lacus eleifend quis interdum nullam ac nulla. Fames dictum eleifend eget eleifend tincidunt hac dui euismod ut etiam. Elementum phasellus fermentum facilisi enim ultrices facilisis netus est maecenas adipiscing vestibulum massa neque purus. Nisl facilisi sollicitudin aliquam molestie justo eros augue elit molestie malesuada.

      Justo integer leo vitae lacus et nisl volutpat nullam convallis fames. Urna tempor diam adipiscing quis do netus lectus quisque neque eleifend facilisis. Laoreet pulvinar euismod facilisis aliquet cursus eros eget hac. Consequat sed congue tempus dapibus nec tellus scelerisque bibendum lacinia. Hac massa semper dictum purus nibh a eu aliquet in.

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