January 2026 Newsletter
Hello 2026!
⭐
Hello 2026! ⭐
What a lovely start to the new year!
We’re excited to welcome Luke, our new Service Support Assistant, to the workshop team. Many of you will already recognise him as he spent some time last year volunteering with us and officially joined the staff this month.
Luke is already proving to be a fantastic addition to Chopshed. He’s brought plenty of skills, talent and enthusiasm, and we’re thrilled to have him on board.
Here’s to a great year ahead with Luke as part of the team.
Busy days in the workshop
The workshop has quickly settled back into its usual rhythm after the Christmas break. Our members have been busy getting stuck into different projects and developing their skills.
Recently the team have been busy painting and sanding, taking great care with their work and supporting each other along the way.
It’s always wonderful to see everyone working together, learning new techniques and building confidence in the workshop.
Good job ladies!
Getting ready for Valentine’s Day ❤️
January also saw the team begin preparing some of our Valentine’s gifts, including our new gift card holders made in the laser room.
These handmade items are a lovely way to add a personal touch to a Valentine’s gift. Every product created in the workshop helps our members continue developing new skills while building confidence and independence.
Keep an eye on our shop and social media to see what the team has been creating.
We ended the month with a well‑deserved trip to McDonald’s — a treat thoroughly enjoyed by everyone!
Edward… our super duper de-nailer! 🔨
Edward has been hard at work in the yard tackling one of the most important jobs in the process – removing nails from reclaimed timber.
This helps make sure the wood is safe to work with before it’s reused in the workshop, and Edward does a brilliant job keeping things running smoothly.
Great work, Edward!
Oreo’s Corner 🐾
As some of you already know, we’ve unexpectedly found ourselves with a work cat! Oreo has decided that Chopsticks is officially his home, and we’re all completely on board with his choice. He’s a lovely, friendly lad who has charmed every single one of us. Staff and members adore him, and visitors never miss the chance to give him plenty of fuss and attention. It’s safe to say he’s settled in perfectly — and we’re very happy to have him as part of the team!
Keep an eye out to see what he’s been getting up to…
Thank you for supporting Chopsticks
Every purchase, visit and message of support helps us continue providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to develop skills and confidence in a friendly and supportive workshop environment.
We’re looking forward to everything 2026 has in store.