Frequently asked questions

We’re here to help. Whether you’re placing an order, looking to volunteer or exploring support options — you’ll find answers to common questions below.

Group of people working with wood outdoors, wearing gloves and safety gear, surrounded by stacks of wooden planks and framing materials.

Our Services

Delivery and Shipping

Products and Orders

Discounts and Offers

Getting Involved

Visiting and Accessibility

Gift Card FAQs

General and contact info

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Two men inside a grocery store, one wearing an orange safety jacket, gloves, and a beanie, and the other with a bald head, holding a large bag of what appears to be popcorn or chips. They are smiling and standing near shopping carts and shelves of produce.
Two men, one in a wheelchair, laughing and smiling as they operate a large industrial machine in a wood workshop, with one man pointing at the machine controls and the other operating them.
A girl in a red jacket standing behind a table with Christmas crafts at a holiday market, with other shoppers and tables displaying decorations and gifts in a school room.
A man wearing safety glasses, headphones, and a teal shirt holds a sign that says 'Gift Cards Available' inside a woodworking or manufacturing facility. Other workers and stacks of cut wood are visible in the background.
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Group of people working with wood outdoors, wearing gloves and safety gear, surrounded by stacks of wooden planks and framing materials.

Our services

  • We provide meaningful work opportunities, practical skill-building, and structured day support for adults with learning disabilities. Members take part in hands-on tasks including kindling production, woodwork, crafts and community projects — all in a safe, supportive environment.
    Our setting is designed to reflect a real workplace, with scheduled tea breaks and lunch times. This structure helps teach essential work-based skills and prepares some of our clients for the chance to find paid work.

  • Activities include producing and packing kindling, upcycling furniture, woodworking, painting, sanding, art, gardening and helping operate our laser cutter/engraver machine.

  • Yes — Chopsticks is a paid day service. Most members are referred and funded through North Yorkshire Council or NHS but it is possible to pay privately for your place. We can help talk through funding options if you’re unsure.

  • Yes. Referrals usually come from social workers, care providers or family members. We’re happy to arrange an initial visit and taster day to see if Chopsticks is a good fit.

  • Sometimes, depending on availability. Get in touch and we’ll talk you through the current situation and next steps.

  • A typical working day for our members starts at 9:30am and ends at 3:00pm. Members are welcome to arrive from 9:00am onwards to have a drink and a chat before work starts.

    Some members attend one or two days a week; others attend more regularly — it depends on individual needs and wishes.

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Delivery and shipping

  • We offer free UK delivery on all standard orders. Most items are sent by tracked courier. You can also choose collection at checkout.
    Local delivery is only available for kindling (see below).

  • Local delivery applies to kindling only, within the Northallerton area. Orders of 10 bags or more can be delivered free of charge. Smaller orders must be collected.
    Place your kindling order online and select collection, then contact us if you’re ordering 10 bags or more and would like to arrange local delivery.

  • Yes. Collection is available for all products. Choose collection at checkout.

    Collections are from:
    Chopsticks (North Yorkshire) Limited, Endeavour House, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NA.

    Please wait for your confirmation email before coming to collect. We’ll confirm when your order is ready and arrange a collection time if needed.

  • All standard UK orders include free delivery.

    Local delivery is free for kindling orders of 10 bags or more within Northallerton. Smaller kindling orders are collection only.

  • Most orders are processed and dispatched within 3 to 5 working days.
    Collection orders and agreed local deliveries may be available sooner. We’ll contact you if there’s any delay.

  • We currently ship within the UK only.

  • You can track your parcel using the shipping reference provided. If you need help, contact us with your order details and we’ll look into it straight away.

  • Yes. If you’d like us to include a gift message or avoid pricing on the receipt, leave a note at checkout or get in touch.

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Products and orders

  • We sell kindling, handmade crafts, planters, animal homes (bird, bee and insect boxes), upcycled furniture, seasonal gifts and more — all made by our members and staff.

  • Yes — nearly everything we sell is handmade, recycled or repurposed using donated wood and materials. Each item is unique.

  • Yes — we take personalised requests for furniture, planters, gardenware and laser room items. Contact us with your request and we’ll see what’s possible.

  • If your order hasn’t yet been processed or shipped, we’ll do our best to help. Contact us as soon as possible.

  • We accept debit/credit cards and Apple Pay through our secure checkout.

  • We want you to be happy with your purchase. If something’s wrong, please contact us within 7 days and we’ll do what we can to make it right.

A smiling man wearing a high-visibility yellow vest giving thumbs up at an indoor community event with a display board and an older woman sitting at a table behind him.

Discounts and offers

  • Yes — we occasionally run special offers, bundle deals and seasonal discounts. Check our website or follow us on Facebook.

  • Follow us on Facebook to stay in the loop about promotions, new products and fundraising events.

  • No — only one discount code can be used per order.

  • We do offer bulk pricing for some products. If you’re buying on behalf of an organisation, just get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.

Group of nine volunteers outdoors holding signs with thank you messages to different individuals, standing in front of a brick wall and two large signs on a wall above them.

Getting involved

  • Visit our Volunteer with Us page to learn more and fill out an enquiry form. We’re always looking for people to help in the workshop, garden or wherever your skills could be best used.

  • Check our Join the Team page for staff vacancies. If we’re not recruiting, we’re still happy to hear from people interested in future roles.

  • Absolutely! Whether you’re running a raffle, holding a bake sale or setting up a JustGiving page, we’re here to support you. Visit our Fundraise for Us page for ideas and information.

  • We accept donations of wood, tools, furniture, craft supplies and tech. See our Donate page for what we’re currently looking for, or get in touch to check.

  • Yes — we partner with schools, employers and organisations across North Yorkshire. Visit our Trusted Partners page to learn more.

Two men are in a woodworking shop, one is in a wheelchair and pointing at a control panel on an industrial machine, while the other man is standing next to him, wearing a teal shirt and a beige hat, smiling and leaning towards the machine. Another person is in the background, and the workshop is filled with wooden planks and equipment.

Visiting and accessibility

  • We’re based at Endeavour House, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NA. You can find our location and contact details on the Contact us page.

  • Yes — we welcome visitors by appointment. Just give us a call to arrange a time.

  • Yes — we are a Disability Confident Employer. We already have members who use wheelchairs working in our workshop.

    We also have a Changing Places wet room, accessible for all, available Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:30pm. If you have specific requirements, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

  • Yes — we have limited on-site parking for visitors, including accessible spaces.

  • Of course. We encourage visits so people can get a feel for what we do. Just contact us to arrange a suitable time.

A man in a teal shirt and gloves smiling and holding a sign that says 'Gift Cards Available' in a factory or warehouse setting with other workers and wood products in the background.

Gift Card FAQs

  • No – it’s a digital gift card. The purchaser receives an email with a unique code straight after checkout.

  • At checkout, you can choose to send the gift card directly to the recipient, or email it to yourself. If you choose Email to You, you can print the code or forward it whenever you like.

  • Your gift card is redeemed online only. Visit our online shop, add your items to basket and enter your gift card code at checkout. The amount on the card is taken off your total automatically.

    If your order costs less than the gift card value, the remaining balance stays on the card for next time. If your order costs more, you just pay the difference with a debit or credit card.

  • Yes. If you visit our Northallerton workshop, bring your gift card email or printed code and a team member can help you redeem it online using our website.

  • No – Chopsticks gift cards never expire.

  • Yes. If the order total is more than the gift card balance, the remainder can be paid using a debit or credit card.

  • No – Squarespace sends you straight to checkout when buying a gift card, so it must be purchased on its own.

  • Gift cards cannot be refunded.

  • Not at the moment. We offer set values to choose from.

  • Yes – multiple Chopsticks gift cards can be used in a single order.

  • Discounts don’t apply when buying a gift card, but they can be used on future orders paid for with one.

Group of seven people seated in a woodworking shop, with stacks of wood in the background, some wearing hearing protection and safety gear, posing with their feet on wrapped bundles of wood.

General and contact info

  • You can call, email or use our online form. Visit the Contact us page for all the details.

  • Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:30pm. We’re closed on weekends and bank holidays.

  • Email tracey@chopsticks.org.uk or call us on 01609 761661 and we’ll connect you with the right person.

  • Yes — our updates are shared through our Blog. You can check the blog anytime for new products, events and stories from the workshop. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up with the latest news.

  • We always welcome feedback. Use our Contact us form or speak to a member of staff — your thoughts help us improve.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Visit our Contact us page or give us a call on 01609 761661 — we’ll be happy to help.