You may have seen some of ASC’s amazing wood products at the Head Office sale from ASC a few weeks ago, as part of their social enterprise – Lotus – stunning, turned and crafted wood products: chopping boards, bowls and candlesticks, to fascinating Bug Hotels of all shapes and sizes. The woodwork was all created bespoke, and to order, by service users in ASC’s highly productive, unique in-house carpentry workshop, under the watchful eye of Bob Foulds, who developed the workshop from scratch in a former shed, to share not only carpentry, but life skills, and most of all, to encourage relaxation and fun! And as the labels said all ‘Handmade with Love.’
After visiting the wood workshop at ASC to collect some items ordered for Christmas gifts from that sale, one of our Head Office team members was so overwhelmed by the passion shown by Bob and the two service users who were busy working at the time – as well as the mutual respect they all had for each other – it fuelled her passion to help.
Pauline tells us, “Whilst I was there, Bob mentioned their laser engraver was broken so they couldn’t engrave their social enterprise emblem, the Lotus, into their items. I had an irresistible urge to help them get a new engraver, so I started making items to sell to family and friends: little reindeer chocolate sweet treats for the tree or a bottle neck, and larger Sweetie bouquets. So far I’ve raised £110 of my £250 target.”
Next week, there will be a small fundraising sale at Head Office, giving colleagues the opportunity to purchase some of those makes and bakes, everyone supporting the wood workshop at ASC. All funds raised will go towards buying a laser engraver.
Just in time for them to get engraving onto all the items they’re avidly creating for Christmas Markets. One at ASC itself and another in their home town of Balbeggie, for the Balbeggie Christmas Fayre, Saturday 27 November, 10am-12pm, St Martin’s Hall. Miss it and miss out!
