Workshop

Where practical work comes together

The Workshop is at the heart of Chopsticks. It’s where our members turn recycled timber into high-quality kindling — building skills, structure and confidence through practical, hands-on work.

This isn’t just about chopping wood. It’s about routine, teamwork and pride in a job well done. For many of our members, this space is the backbone of their week — a place to contribute, belong and grow. It’s also where Chopsticks began, and it still sits at the heart of what we do.

Read our story →

Buy Kindling from Chopsticks

You can buy kindling directly from our online shop
Local delivery available for 10 large bags or more
Collection available for smaller quantities
All bags are biodegradable and packed by hand by our members

Small Kindling Bag Small Kindling Bag
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Small Kindling Bag
£4.00
Large Kindling Bag Large Kindling Bag
Quick View
Large Kindling Bag
£9.00
Shop all kindling

Certified Quality

We’re proud to be Woodsure Ready to Burn certified (Certificate No. WS664).

This means our kindling:

  • meets strict moisture and quality standards

  • burns cleanly, safely and efficiently

  • is ready to use straight away, whatever your setup

A man wearing headphones, yellow gloves, and a dark sweater, holding a large bag of chopped wood in a warehouse or workshop with wood piles and safety signs in the background.
Logo for Ready to Burn, featuring an orange circle with a stylized red flame and the words "READY TO BURN" written across it.
Living room with a brick fireplace, wood mantel, large round mirror, family photos, decorative objects, and a wood stove burning fire. A large bag of chopped wood in the foreground.

Ideal for:
Log burners
Open fires
Chimineas
Fire pits

What Happens in the Workshop

Our team works together to transform clean, donated timber into ready-to-sell products. Activities include:

  • Sorting donated timber

  • Operating machinery to cut timber and transform it into kindling (all machines are fitted with extra guards to ensure safe use by everyone)

  • Stacking kindling neatly into our specially designed chutes

  • Bagging and sealing the kindling into recyclable bags

  • Stacking orders for local stockists or collection

It’s a busy, focused environment with staff and members working together as a real team. Every bag of Chopsticks kindling is made in our Northallerton workshop.

Two workers, a woman and a man, wearing safety gear and gloves, are operating a wood-cutting machine in a workshop or factory setting.

Skills That Make a Difference

It’s more than making firewood. It’s practical work that builds skills, structure and confidence.

It helps members:

  • Learn to follow processes and use equipment safely

  • Build confidence, stamina and coordination

  • Develop teamwork, timekeeping and routine

  • See the impact of their work in real time

Whether someone’s filling bags or de-nailing timber, every role matters.

Two women working together to hammer a wooden plank in an indoor warehouse or workshop, with one woman instructing or helping the other.
Man wearing red ear protection, a teal sweatshirt, and yellow gloves standing in a woodworking shop, assembling a wooden piece near a conveyor belt with wood logs and a red container filled with cut wood pieces.
“I like helping with the kindling — it keeps me busy, and I know people are using what we make.”
— David

Sustainable & Local

We use recycled wood, reducing waste and giving timber a second life. The kindling we produce is sold locally, keeping costs low and impact high.

You can find our products in:
• Our online shop
• Local shops and firewood suppliers
• Direct from our Northallerton site

Every sale supports Chopsticks and helps fund other activities for our members.

Buy our Kindling →

Four people working in a warehouse, holding pieces of wood and smiling, with large bins filled with cut and unfinished wood pieces around them.

Why It

Matters

Provides consistent, purposeful work

Supports inclusion and independence

Helps fund Chopsticks’ wider mission

Builds transferable life and job skills

All activities are fully supported by staff, with tasks tailored to individual ability — making the Workshop a safe, inclusive space for everyone.

“When my son comes home after a day in the Workshop, he’s energised, proud and feels like he’s contributed to something real. That sense of purpose means everything to us.”
— Parent of a Chopsticks member

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes — it lights easily and burns hot and clean, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor fires.

  • Yes — it lights quickly and burns hot, making it ideal for small wood-fired setups like pizza ovens, stoves and outdoor fire pits.

  • Yes — we offer local delivery in and around Northallerton for orders of 10 large bags or more. Select delivery at checkout or contact us to check availability.

  • Small bag: approx. 28cm x 30cm
    Large bag: approx. 45cm x 60cm

    Sizes may vary slightly due to the handmade process.

  • All kindling is dried to meet Woodsure standards — with moisture content under 20% for safe, efficient burning.

  • Yes — we’re always grateful for clean, untreated timber donations. Please contact us first so we can make sure it’s suitable and arrange a convenient drop-off time.

  • Absolutely. We can supply bulk orders to local businesses, community venues and charities. Get in touch to discuss quantities, delivery options and pricing.

Two men standing inside a grocery store, one wearing an orange jacket and gloves, giving a thumbs up, and the other holding a large bag of chopped wood, both smiling.
A man wearing glasses and a black face mask stands inside a shop near a display of logs and firewood. The display has a blackboard sign showing prices for logs and bags. Behind him are framed posters, a potted plant, a refrigerator with drinks, and an ice cream freezer.

You can collect your order directly from our site in Northallerton, or buy from local retailers.

View Stockists →

Prefer to Shop in Person?

When you buy from Chopsticks, you’re getting great kindling and directly supporting:

  • Adults with learning disabilities to gain skills, confidence and purpose

  • A local social enterprise rooted in sustainability

  • The reuse of timber that would otherwise go to landfill

Every Bag

Makes a

Difference

A man operating a large industrial wood processing machine in a warehouse. He is wearing a camouflage jacket, blue gloves, and has earphones in his ears.
Group of people working in a woodshop, wearing safety ear protection, gloves, and casual clothes, as they cut pieces of wood on a workbench.
Woman wearing safety glasses, earmuffs, and gloves smiling as she sorts wooden blocks in a workshop or factory setting.
Worker in a neon yellow safety vest and black pants using a machine to process long strips of wood or similar material in an industrial setting.
A man smiling and waving at the camera, wearing a red cap, a yellow safety vest, and gloves, standing behind a pile of chopped wood in an indoor setting.
A man with glasses and hearing protection at a wood workshop, leaning over a pile of cut wooden sticks, smiling at the camera.
Young man wearing safety headphones and glasses, working with wood in a workshop.
A man in a hearing protection set, plaid shirt, and gloves is working with wood shavings or small wooden pieces in a workshop, with other workers and industrial equipment in the background.
A smiling man wearing a teal sweatshirt, headphones, and gloves, stacking firewood in a warehouse.
A man smiling at the camera while working with wood pieces in a woodworking shop, wearing ear protection and a teal shirt.
A man wearing hearing protection and gloves holding a large plastic bag of chopped wood at a woodworking or carpentry workshop.
Workers in a woodworking shop working with wood materials and machinery.
An elderly woman and a young girl are interacting at a woodworking or crafting event in a large indoor space. The young girl is wearing safety headphones and gloves, holding a piece of wood, and smiling broadly. The elderly woman is smiling and has h
Three smiling people taking a selfie in front of a display of various types of cheese and wood logs at a market or shop. There are signs indicating prices and product names.
An elderly man with gray hair and a beard, wearing headphones, gloves, a red shirt, black pants, and sneakers, is standing in front of boxes of wood chips with a logo. He is smiling, making a fist pump gesture, and appears happy.
Girl in red sweatshirt at Christmas craft fair with holiday decorations, handcrafted gifts, and other vendors in the background.
Living room with a wood-burning stove inside a brick fireplace, a large bag of chopped wood labeled 'Chopsticks Charity', a beige sofa, and various pictures and decorations on the wall and mantel.
Two people at a craft stall outdoors, with jewelry and wooden items on a table, under a green canopy, in front of a tree, with a group of people in the background on a grassy area and houses across the street.
Three plastic bags filled with chopped wood pieces on a wooden surface. The bags are labeled with a green and yellow circular logo that reads "Chopsticks Charity," supporting adults with disabilities, with additional information and a phone number.