After 8 Incredible Years, Hope Woodwork Has a New Home!

We've said goodbye to our long-time home on Finmere Road and moved into the cozy basement of The Way on Seaside Road. Downsizing was a necessary step to keep our charity project alive, though it came with the bittersweet farewell to many beloved woodworking machines that simply couldn’t make the move with us. 

One brave machine did attempt the journey—standing like a modern monolith in the basement—but quickly proved more sculptural than practical, eating up valuable teaching space!

Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. The new tenants at Finmere Road are also woodworkers, and we were thrilled to pass on some of our equipment to them. Even better, we've agreed to share access in the future so we can still process materials for our courses. 

Now at The Way, we’ve carved (pun intended!) out a brand-new workshop to offer training with hand tools. We’re now more focused on training and supporting people towards employment. We can cater for all abilities from our beginner’s course progressing through intermediate and advanced levels. Individuals will hone their skills and explore intricate joinery—like complex Japanese joints. 

Of course, woodworking at Hope Woodwork is about more than timber and tenons. Individuals continue to gain valuable life and work experience, and our incredible volunteer supervisors remain just as committed—even if they miss the old log burner! (Don’t worry, we’ve got a toasty, Wi-Fi-controlled radiator now). There’s ample space to sit and chat over coffee and lunch.

Being based at The Way in the heart of Eastbourne means easier access for our community and more visibility to the public. Just steps from the pier and seafront, we’re excited to welcome even more people and opportunities for the general public via the Craft Courses website. 

Here’s to new beginnings, continued craftsmanship, and a warm (literally and figuratively!) future at Hope Woodwork.