Reaffirming skills, confidence, and belonging in furniture making

We now accept Expressions of Interest for the 2026 Woodworking & Gender 6-Week Workshop Experience Course, running 11 May – 18 June 2026 at Sylva Wood School, Oxfordshire.

This course is designed for woodworkers and furniture makers who want dedicated time in a professional workshop to refine and broaden their skills, strengthen confidence, and reconnect with their sense of purpose and belonging in the craft.

Over six weeks (four days per week, Monday to Thursday), participants will work in a supportive environment that mirrors professional practice, combining industry-level expectations for quality and pace with a culture of care, collaboration, and growth. We aim high, while creating a space where mistakes are part of the learning process and where everyone is supported to develop and push their skills.

Who the course is for

This course is open to women, trans (including trans men), and non-binary furniture makers and woodworkers. If you’re unsure about your experience and whether you meet any of the criteria below – but you enjoy working with wood and making – please still get in touch. Research shows that women hold back from applying unless they feel they tick every box. We’d love to explore your experience with you and see if this course could be the right fit.

We welcome applications from:

• Recent furniture making graduates and those who have already done make-centered courses in the past.
• Practising makers seeking structured time to refine and reaffirm their skills.
• Those returning to workshop practice after a break, looking to rebuild confidence and speed.
• Early-career makers wanting to develop new skills, connect with peers, industry mentors, and professional networks for career development.

What you’ll gain

Professional practice
Experience the rhythm and standards of an active furniture workshop through low-volume batch production, supported by expert tutors and visiting professionals from across the industry.

Industry connection
Meet and learn from leading makers, workshops, and employers both on site and through workshop visits. Explore what quality and efficiency mean in real-world contexts, and prepare for the expectations of professional practice.

Build confidence and belonging
(Re)build your sense of ease and self-assurance in the workshop. We offer a safe, inclusive space where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, try and fail, ask questions, and establish a sustainable pace.

Open and friendly workshop culture
We believe the best workshops are built on kindness, humour, and respect. Ours is a space where people look out for one another, share tools and knowledge generously, and take pride in the welcoming atmosphere as much as the work itself.

Accessibility and learning support
Teaching is structured and paced to support a range of learning needs. The course runs Mondays to Thursdays, 9am–4:30pm, with clear daily routines and space for reflection and feedback. Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns so we can understand your needs and adapt if feasible.

Course details

• Dates: 11 May – 18 June 2026
• Schedule: 4 days per week (Monday – Thursday), 9:00am – 4:30pm
• Location: Sylva Foundation, Wood School, Little Wittenham Road, Long Wittenham, OX14 4QT
• Fee: £250

Application process

We’re now welcoming expressions of interest for the 2025 6-Week Workshop Experience. This first step helps us get to know you and gives you the chance to find out more before deciding whether to apply formally when applications open in mid-December.

It also gives you a chance to visit the site or chat with us before submitting a formal application. It’s a personal, no-pressure way to start the conversation and make sure this course is the right fit for you. That’s why we strongly encourage you to, if possible, visit us for our Wood School Open Day on Saturday December 6th or arrange a visit at another time to get a feel for the commute, the site, the team, and the workshop atmosphere. While this isn’t a requirement, we do recommend it, as places are limited and we want to ensure the best possible fit by understanding everyone’s experience, expectations, and learning goals.

Please send your expression of interest to gender@sylva.org.uk. Feel free to submit it in any format that suits you: written text, PDF, video, website, or portfolio are all welcome.

Help us get to know you:

1. About you
Your name, pronouns, and contact details. If you’d like, you can share your website or social media related to your work instead.

2. Why this course interests you
What draws you to the 6-Week Workshop Experience Course, and what do you hope to get out of it?

3. Your woodworking or furniture-making experience
Tell us a bit about your background, for example, your training, areas of work, or what kind of making you most enjoy.

4. Visiting and next steps
Would you like to visit us at Sylva Wood School but can’t make the Open Day? Do you live too far away to visit and would like to have a chat before applications open? If yes, please tell us what would work best for you!

5. Access or learning support (optional)
Is there anything you’d like us to know about how we can make visiting, applying or your learning experience easier for you (for example, neurodivergence, caring responsibilities, physical access, etc.)?

What happens next?
We’ll be in touch to confirm receipt and, if you’d like, arrange a time to visit or chat.
You’ll then receive the full application details when the process opens mid-December 2025. We aim to hold informal chats with all applicants (if feasible) early February 2026, so decisions will be shared by mid February giving applicants time to plan.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at gender@sylva.org.uk.