A belief in sustainability and the value in making as a force for good. I have been leading open access making workshops for over 35 years and from observing and listening to feedback from participants there is a clear benefit to wellbeing from using our hands to create something tangible.
A life long interest of mine in design and the built environment is rooted in the Bauhaus Design School which was established in Weimar in 1919. Early restoration commissions were of fine museum pieces from the Georgian and Regency period reflecting beautiful design and elegance in abundance.
In contrast, commissions to design and build were nearly always through a lens of minimal lines and form. This was partly driven by the need to keep an eye on the budget but consequently steered the design into a minimalist form.
Youth work and the delivery of workshop sessions stem from an alternative to custody project in 1988 when I was invited to run some woodwork wellbeing sessions for young offenders. 35 years later and I have been running similar workshops for numerous charities including notably Kids Company in Loughborough Junction and Peckham, south London until its demise in 2015.