Restoration Station: Q&A with Rhys Pritchard

Having recently seen it work on projects for Sager & Wilde and Italian restaurant Over London, as well as ongoing stream of private residential commissions, we asked Restoration Station manager Rhys Pritchard to tell us a little more about the inspiring and dynamic work the organisation does. 

Way back since before Shoreditch was cool, or at least before it got very expensive, our charity’s training workshop has had a back door opening onto Shoreditch High Street. Students inside were carefully restoring donated furniture as part of their addiction recovery programme. Bernard the woodwork tutor was often asked to repair old chairs and tables as a favour. About four years ago our lovely manager Sheona saw the chance to swing open the double doors and sell direct from the workshop. Restoration Station has been selling vintage furniture and doing bespoke restoration ever since - at really low prices!

Restoration Station provides a safe place where people in recovery from addictions to get back into the swing of working life. For people with big gaps in their work history or who have slipped out of the routine of getting up with somewhere to be on time, being a trainee is chance to become part of a team, be relied upon to do work well and on time, and be trusted again for the first time. It means learning to put their recovery first, while managing other demands.Trainees develop new skills, and enjoy the satisfaction of making and restoring things that can have an extended useful life, and hear positive feedback about their work from customers. It’s affirming. The value of simple interactions within our team and with some of the lovely customers in our shop can be huge.The growth in self-esteem can be fast. It’s great to see people’s self-respect growing and pride in their work. It’s often clear in someone’s changing appearance and demeanour.

Many of our guys have stayed upstairs in Acorn House – SCT’s residential rehab support unit – and want to give back to the charity. Some say the programme here has given them their lives back, getting them off the streets and abstinent – sometimes for the first time in decades.

Almost everyone has learned a range of basic woodworking and hand tool techniques on the woodwork course before starting with Restoration Station. There’s no strict curriculum and learning on the job is nice and varied as every item is different. Finishing techniques are key as lots of things need surfaces preparing and re-oiling, painting waxing or painting.

I think that wellbeing pivots on finding satisfying, rewarding work, and society suffers when people don’t feel they have a fair chance of achieving that. It’d be amazing if there were more chances for anyone to find their passion and work with it. I’m glad that Restoration Station gives people access to the rewards of making and repairing furniture – people who otherwise probably wouldn’t experience that. 

We don’t set out to be a place where people stay on for longer than a year. Our progression workers help trainees with their next work or training opportunity, and most ask to pursue a path in other disciplines – as a plumber, photography student, electrical PAT tester, peer support worker…  We do what we can to help trainees take the next step on the path that works for them and for most it wont’ be furniture or design. For those who do wish to take that direction, it’d be great if the doors were open to people from different backgrounds and with varied life experiences. That can only help keep any sector vibrant and fresh.

Whilst woodworking and restoration are the most visible skills our trainees gain, I think it’s the soft skills of team-working, building relationships and self-confidence that prepare our people most for working life. These are hard to develop and can be transformational.

The Restoration Station model strikes with social, environmental and financial aspects of sustainability. The trainees are giving their time and gaining experience, skills, and personal development. Their work means we can offer good value services that cover the costs of the business and keep it running. Much of our stock is saved from landfill or being dumped on the street, so there are environmental benefits in reduced waste and fewer new things needing to be being made.

That recovery must come first. With trainees and some staff working a disciplined recovery programme, the workshop has a strong focus on self-improvement. That’s positive whether you’re in recovery or not. Our team are hot on accepting what we can’t change, being accountable and avoiding self-centredness by supporting others. There’s a lot of humility and honesty in the workshop too.  We all have bad days. Learning to manage that and be challenged on things where character growth may be needed is an important part of the trainee role.

We’re really lucky to receive donations of amazing vintage furniture, and some fairly ordinary pieces that we try to make amazing. If anyone reading this has an item that doesn’t work in their home anymore but that they want to be cherished by a new owner, please think of us! E-mail (info@restorationstation.org.uk) a photo or two and we might be able to come and collect it for free.

To see what items are already arriving at the Restoration Station workshop, keep an eye on its Instagram or Twitter feeds.