Work of Iron, forging for community

We have been approved for live match funding from Creative Scotland - Crowdmatch, please help to share this project, thank you! 

MISSION AND VISSION

My name is Jack Waygood and I have worked as a blacksmith in the industry for well over a decade. I'm asking for your support to raise £10,000 towards the start up costs for Work of Iron CIC. Our purpose is to deliver blacksmithing courses, events and open access sessions for all; forging for community.

ABOUT ME

As a blacksmith, I hand forge a range of industrial style furniture, create artworks for exhibitions and undertake commissions in architectural, sculptural, domestic and interior projects as well as television and film. My work is sold in galleries, at shows and online across the UK.

Since the age of 18, pursuing blacksmithing has earned me qualifications up to master’s degree level. I have gained, experience in teaching students from all walks of life, trained as a Journeyman, working in forges around the globe and received awards for my contributions to the craft, from The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths and The British Artist Blacksmiths Association.

 I have been a sole trader for the last three years, and taking my business ‘Work of Iron’ to the next level as a Community Interest Company (Not for Profit) has become my life’s biggest aspiration. With your support I can establish a fully professional facility at The Pitt, Granton. My goals are to expand on my own blacksmithing practice and to offer a range of courses, events and open sessions, focused on being accessible to the widest audience possible through collaborations with North Edinburgh Arts and Historic Environments Scotland.

Funds raised now will help with start-up costs and establish a ‘pay it forward’ fund that will subsidise courses for people who would otherwise be excluded, meaning that finances will not be a barrier to participation at Work of Iron CIC and this opportunity will be able to continue, sustaining itself into the future.

THE FORGE

Work of Iron CIC will be unique in Edinburgh, offering courses and open access to the community alongside a working professional practice. A welcoming and creative environment designed to offer job opportunities and a place where people from all walks of life can experience, connect and explore their interests in the craft of blacksmithing. 

In conjunction with Historic Environments Scotland Jack has trained Craft Fellow Jameel Kouara as an apprentice for the past 12 months and runs an introduction to blacksmithing workshop for those visiting HES's careers day event. Expanding on this, a professionally executed portable forge has been developed so that the Work of Iron team can do outreach work and attend even more events.

Work of Iron will be able to offer those undertaking work experience, apprentices and journeymen a place to train and create a space for people to learn about the heritage craft of blacksmithing, embedded directly in the local history of North Edinburgh.

LOCATION

After three years in temporary spaces, Work of Iron has finally found a permanent home at The Pitt in Granton, North Edinburgh. Now occupying the old Ferranti factory site at 20 Westshore Road, their vision is to become a new social, cultural and grassroots space where ideas can be trialled, tested and brought to life in a supportive, low-barrier, community environment. Part of the Granton waterfront regeneration project, they provide economic and social benefits locally, meaning Work of Iron will be right at home!

Currently all my equipment is in a temporary space in a warehouse in Granton, literally 5 minutes down the road, where I don’t even have room to plug in the powerhammer! I have agreed on a space with The Pitt and with your help I plan to move into the new workshop by May this year!

LOCAL COMMUNITY

I call north Edinburgh home and have now re-established Work of Iron as a community interest company, aligning with my beliefs in sharing the positive effects craft can have on people, advocating for the benefits of mental health and wellbeing from working at the anvil with hammer and tongs.

The craft of blacksmithing helped me face the challenges in my life and I believe forging a community at Work of Iron can help others too.

Subsidised and tailor-made courses will be available through a new collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts which will help reach some of the most vulnerable and marginalized as well as people living locally. The community will directly benefit by gaining access to a fully equipped forge with skilled technicians on hand to offer support and guidance. 

COURSES

The blacksmith's craft has a diverse range of applications. Work of Iron will teach traditional blacksmithing, tool making, sculpting, chasing and repoussé, ring making and much more, with a strong emphasis on technical skills, done the old-fashioned way.

Courses are designed to meet the needs of different ages, groups and abilities from introduction to advanced. We will offer short/taster to more in-depth projects allowing for a flexible price point as well as making subsidised support available. An induction will allow people to join a regular open access session where they can work on their own projects with assistance on hand if they want it.

Throughout the year we will have a master class from a visiting smith and a line up of lectures and social events. There will also be an informal library of ironwork including local ironworking history. Engaging with heritage has shown to benefit people in feeling positive and proud of their area and provides a chance for people from different backgrounds to connect.

We aim to accommodate anyone with an interest-, students, artists, makers or just people looking for something new to have a go at, all are welcome. Participating in a blacksmithing course can benefit mental health, boost self-esteem and foster social connection, providing a creative outlet, making something tangible, developing hand eye coordination and learning transferable skills. These are all key ingredients to what Work of Iron has to offer. 

"An absolutely amazing experience! I couldn't recommend it enough. The course was scaled to my physical abilities and technical experience perfectly. I would highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in metal who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. Jack Waygood is absolutely lovely, a great instructor and fantastic company. Will definitely check out more courses by him!"

"Jack was very down to earth and friendly, and the experience felt very personalized. Even though a lot of the equipment and processes felt intimidating at first, Jack does a good job of explaining the use and purpose of each one; to the point that after the course I felt like I would be quite comfortable going into a forge and making something myself. Overall a very useful, fun, and satisfying experience."

"The session was absolutely amazing. Hammering the hot metal and tweaking it gave me such a good feeling. Thanks a lot for your time, Jack. I'm looking forward to more fun sessions."                                                                                                                                                We have proven the process with five star reviews and here is what students are saying on  – CraftCourses

START UP COSTS & 'PAY IT FORWARD' FUND 

The biggest expense to get set up at The Pitt is creating a partition for the space itself and getting electrics fitted. The plan is to fabricate a structure that will enclose 500 s/q ft of the new workshop off from the rest of the large open plan warehouse (the other 500 s/q ft is behind brick walls as featured in the video). This is an important task that needs to happen before moving any equipment over.

Over the last sixteen years I have been making all of my own hand tools and have accumulated the foundations of equipment needed to run my forge solo. Now with the expanding community focus, I will need significantly more hammers, tongs and basic tools so that I can run a larger number of participants on my courses.

Your pledge will also support the start of the subsidised courses fund with 20% of the total figure raised going directly towards course fees for eligible participants. SO if we reach our £10'000 goal, thats £2000 start up for the 'Pay it Forward' fund! 

CROWDFUNDER INVESTMENTS

•    Workshop partition materials
•    Electrics 
•    Personal protective equipment
•    Hand tools
•    Gas forge
•    Anvils
•    Subsidised course fund

DONATE AND RECEIVE AN AWARD

First and foremost a huge thank you for engaging, I know how hard it is for many people in the current climate, so giving money might not be possible. If you will, I would really appreciate your help in giving this Crowdfunder a forward or a share. I’ve created a collection of awards for pledges and plan to throw a big party that you will be warmly invited two!

TIMELINE & REWARDS

I am currently working with The Pitt to organise moving in over the next two months. Once settled by the end of May I will get straight onto fulfilling pledges.

Please join the Work of Iron mailing list and follow us on social media to be kept in the loop!

Terms & conditions:

The rewards offered by Work of Iron will be posted, delivered locally or available for collection at the new workshop from June.

Pledges for courses will be sent the full details and a voucher to organise a suitable date. Please note courses must be booked within 12months.

REWARDS

£8 Reward – Hand-Forged ‘S’ Hook

£12 Reward - A4 Giclée Art Print

£18 Reward - Hot Stamped Magnet!

£25 Reward - Rustic Candle Stick Holder

£55 Reward - Original Copper Etched Artwork

£70 Reward - Celtic Knott Broach

£100 Reward - Bronze Janus Head 

£200 Reward - Fire-Welded Iron Red Roses

 £140 Reward - Half-day Taster Session.                                                                                                      £220 Reward - Full Day Blacksmith Basics.
                                                                                     £450 Reward - Two Day Axe Forging            

£1000+ Reward - Patron attributed to WORK OF IRON CIC