Brighton charity 'gutted' to be closing after 26 years

The Wood Store, which operates in Edward Street in Brighton, has announced that it will be closing its doors at Christmas after 26 years.

Richard Mehmed started the project in 1998 after seeking waste wood to build a Wendy house for his daughter. He realised no one was recycling timber for reuse, and the not-for-profit social enterprise was born. The charity saves reusable timber from landfills and incineration which it then sorts, either for re-supply or transformation into furniture.

As well as promoting environmental sustainability, the charity provides training and volunteering opportunities for individuals facing unemployment or financial hardships.

The charity says that its main revenue, which came from reselling timber or turning it into bespoke furniture, has almost disappeared.

Pete West, CEO of The Wood Store, says he is gutted about the closure (Image: The Wood Store) Pete West from the charity said: “The basis of our business has always been that it is cheaper for companies to have us collect their timber 'waste' than to skip it. But as timber prices have soared since covid the industry has become more careful to minimise waste - good for the environment but has pulled the rug from under us. We also face the problem of finding premises now that so many affordable employment sites have been redeveloped for housing.

“Then there is the economy: people simply don't have the money they did - they have stopped buying our workshop products and timber for DIY.”

There are 12 staff employed by the project and 100 volunteers have worked with the charity this year alone. Before the charity shuts at Christmas, they are asking locals to purchase their reduced price timber, place a final order for something to be made, pay any money owed, make an offer to purchase tooling and vehicles and volunteer to wrap the charity up.

Pete said: “Frankly, I'm gutted that we are having to close. It's certainly not a choice we wish to make, but we have no alternative. The city will certainly be the poorer for the loss of the Wood Store.

"We're sorry we won't be there to help people in the future.”​