TouchWood South West

Q: I’m not able to travel, what can you offer?

We have a few online courses which can be found here .

Female-led Construction Courses for Women from an Award-winning Carpentry & Joinery Company in Moretonhampstead, Devon.

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Carpentry & DIY Courses for Women

We empower and inspire women and their communities to learn and use practical manual skills, in a drive towards a fair and sustainable future.

We offer construction courses for women and we share our skills through working with schools and the wider community.

Our vision is a world where it is the NORM and not the EXCEPTION for women to be learning and using practical construction skills.

Featured Course

DIY Carpentry and Power Drills - Course for Women

DIY Carpentry & Power Drills – Course for Women

Want to put up that shelf or curtain rail without it coming loose? Want to learn how to mark, saw and join wood accurately for a great result?

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Whole Course Schedule

See how our courses fit together:

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It's so great to see young people pick up carpentr

Want to spend some quality time together, learning

— Creative Woodworking Sessions – – It's great to

Meanwhile on site… The demolition is coming to a

We've got some places still on our Adult and Child

I am not an electrician, but I can change spotligh

Want to understand your house better? Do more your

Love the beaming faces of our students after compl

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Our Values

Quality – We won’t cut corners.
Integrity – We deliver what we promised and are in communication if there is a problem.
Efficiency – It’s a journey: we continuously strive to make our work more efficient and therefore cost effective.
Sustainability – This is the context for our work and our lives. We will seek to promote and favour solutions that reduce emissions, waste and increase energy efficiency.
Equality – We want a world where women and men are equally represented in all areas of the construction industry.

Touchwood South West Ltd is a not-for-profit limited company by guarantee, Company No. 9621990

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What Our Students Say …

					The plumbing course was amazing! I was nervous but it is so well run with hands on practice, loads of tips and encouragement - it now feels very possible to tackle likely future problems and projects!
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Maria Scott
Nov 2024
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Maria Scott
Nov 2024

						The plumbing course was amazing! I was nervous but it is so well run with hands on practice, loads of tips and encouragement - it now feels very possible to tackle likely future problems and projects!
					
					These two days were the best! Such a highly supportive, humorous, generous bunch of people, Astrid and Nicola are just amazing tutors, so knowledgable and so clear in their explanations. Really thoughtfully constructed course so that everyone -whatever their level- learned new things. As a complete beginner, I am so immensely chuffed with my bench hook and shelves- which are in pride of place in my kitchen and all visitors expected to admire😁. I've blocked everyone's whatsapps with photos of masterpieces🤣 Filled with confidence I have just bought my first combi drill, drill bit set, wood screw set,😁😁 and mended our post box, put up hooks in the Tack Room and planning my next project. Just enrolled on the DIY Electrics course- my husband is delighted, putting his feet up and definitely not mansplaining!!
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Sarah Watson
Sep 2024
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Sarah Watson
Sep 2024

						These two days were the best! Such a highly supportive, humorous, generous bunch of people, Astrid and Nicola are just amazing tutors, so knowledgable and so clear in their explanations. Really thoughtfully constructed course so that everyone -whatever their level- learned new things. As a complete beginner, I am so immensely chuffed with my bench hook and shelves- which are in pride of place in my kitchen and all visitors expected to admire😁. I've blocked everyone's whatsapps with photos of masterpieces🤣 Filled with confidence I have just bought my first combi drill, drill bit set, wood screw set,😁😁 and mended our post box, put up hooks in the Tack Room and planning my next project. Just enrolled on the DIY Electrics course- my husband is delighted, putting his feet up and definitely not mansplaining!!
					
					It was very informative, interesting, fun and I didn't feel rushed in any way, no question was considered stupid. I now have a much better understanding of how my power drill works and life is so much easier, plus many other new skills. Thanks for a great two days I could have just kept coming back for more.
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Fiona Lane
Dec 2023
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Fiona Lane
Dec 2023

						It was very informative, interesting, fun and I didn't feel rushed in any way, no question was considered stupid. I now have a much better understanding of how my power drill works and life is so much easier, plus many other new skills. Thanks for a great two days I could have just kept coming back for more.
					
					PLUMBING AND ELECTRICS COURSES NOVEMBER 2023 The Plumbing workshop combined with the Electrics workshop was fabulous. I feel well informed and empowered. I didn’t think I could do it but with Maria and Astrid’s great teaching and patience, I did it! DIY or home renovating I highly recommend booking on and have a go. It’s very hands on so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get working. Thank you Astrid and Maria. 💖😘
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Sheera King
Dec 2023
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Sheera King
Dec 2023

						PLUMBING AND ELECTRICS COURSES NOVEMBER 2023 The Plumbing workshop combined with the Electrics workshop was fabulous. I feel well informed and empowered. I didn’t think I could do it but with Maria and Astrid’s great teaching and patience, I did it! DIY or home renovating I highly recommend booking on and have a go. It’s very hands on so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get working. Thank you Astrid and Maria. 💖😘
					
					I really enjoyed the Carpentry for Women course that I took in September 2023. The level was correct for a novice like myself. With the competent and friendly help I was able to meet the challenges (and have my mistakes rectified). I am absolutely delighted with my handmade footstool and can recommend this course highly.
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Katriona Bradley
Sep 2023
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Katriona Bradley
Sep 2023

						I really enjoyed the Carpentry for Women course that I took in September 2023. The level was correct for a novice like myself. With the competent and friendly help I was able to meet the challenges (and have my mistakes rectified). I am absolutely delighted with my handmade footstool and can recommend this course highly.
					
					Wonderful supportive course designed to give you the confidence to tackle your own projects when you get home.
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Jenni Joy
Jul 2023
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Jenni Joy
Jul 2023

						Wonderful supportive course designed to give you the confidence to tackle your own projects when you get home.
					
					Highly recommended. I did the DIY carpentry & power tools course and came away confident to tackle DIY tasks at home. Loved every minute. Team and participants were lovely. Clear instructions and guidance given throughout, working at your own pace. Great course! I'll be back for another.
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Suzanne Chambers
Mar 2023
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Suzanne Chambers
Mar 2023

						Highly recommended. I did the DIY carpentry & power tools course and came away confident to tackle DIY tasks at home. Loved every minute. Team and participants were lovely. Clear instructions and guidance given throughout, working at your own pace. Great course! I'll be back for another.
					
					Fantastic intro to carpentry with TouchWood, thorough and friendly - can't wait for the next course, just to decide what!
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Katherine Moore
Jan 2023
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Katherine Moore
Jan 2023

						Fantastic intro to carpentry with TouchWood, thorough and friendly - can't wait for the next course, just to decide what!
					
					Brilliant carpentry skills course, I'm so pleased with the step/stool I made and much more confident to tackle future projects. excellent tuition from Astrid and Ellie, thank you so much. I'll be back!
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Rachel Fletcher
Jan 2023
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Rachel Fletcher
Jan 2023

						Brilliant carpentry skills course, I'm so pleased with the step/stool I made and much more confident to tackle future projects. excellent tuition from Astrid and Ellie, thank you so much. I'll be back!
					
					I attended the Carpentry & Power Drill Course - absolutely amazing. I learnt so much. I am now confident to take my drill out of its box and start putting up pictures, mirrors, shelves, curtain rails etc. Would thoroughly recommend this course, Astrid and her helpers are so knowledgeable and patient.
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Debbie Hilder
Oct 2022
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Debbie Hilder
Oct 2022

						I attended the Carpentry & Power Drill Course - absolutely amazing. I learnt so much. I am now confident to take my drill out of its box and start putting up pictures, mirrors, shelves, curtain rails etc. Would thoroughly recommend this course, Astrid and her helpers are so knowledgeable and patient.
					
					Brilliant course , I can’t recommend highly enough . Astrid is so knowledgeable and managed to teach us so much over the 2 days .
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Penny Atkinson
Oct 2022
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Penny Atkinson
Oct 2022

						Brilliant course , I can’t recommend highly enough . Astrid is so knowledgeable and managed to teach us so much over the 2 days .
					
					I can’t believe in the time i did the two day course that i went from not even knowing where a tap washer was to being able to plumb in my own washing machine and many many more things. And not only plumb one in but put my own tap in and an isolation valve (id never even heard of an isolation valve) 🤦🏼‍♀️ I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. Iv learnt far more than I expected and Naomi was such a good teacher, really explained everything. I look forward to completing many more courses in the future. Thank you to everyone who was involved in organising this. A fantastic idea. X
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Neata Anita
Oct 2021
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Neata Anita
Oct 2021

						I can’t believe in the time i did the two day course that i went from not even knowing where a tap washer was to being able to plumb in my own washing machine and many many more things. And not only plumb one in but put my own tap in and an isolation valve (id never even heard of an isolation valve) 🤦🏼‍♀️ I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. Iv learnt far more than I expected and Naomi was such a good teacher, really explained everything. I look forward to completing many more courses in the future. Thank you to everyone who was involved in organising this. A fantastic idea. X
					
					I have done 18 weeks with Astrid Arnold and Becca on the Women Build Course I can’t thank them enough. I can’t believe how much i learned and have the confidence to carry on at home. Thanks xx Rachel
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Rachel Stoneman
Jan 2020
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Rachel Stoneman
Jan 2020

						I have done 18 weeks with Astrid Arnold and Becca on the Women Build Course I can’t thank them enough. I can’t believe how much i learned and have the confidence to carry on at home. Thanks xx Rachel
					

FAQs …

NO! There is no expectation for you to have any previous experience. Wherever you are at with learning practical skills is perfect. Whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience, you will be able to learn something new on our courses.

If the course if full please add yourself to the waiting list to that particular course on the booking page. This helps us gauge interest and lets us know when we need to schedule new dates for the course.

Most of our courses take place at the TouchWood Workshop near Moretonhampstead. We occasionally run courses at other venues but find it difficult to find other suitably equipped workshop spaces.

It depends which course you book on to! All of our courses are designed to give you a solid grounding in the particular skill. We always start with the basics upon which you will be able to build. We intend our courses to be like a key that opens new doors and new possibilities.

You don’t need much to start with, and it depends a little on the project you want to work on. Here is a basic list of tools as a good starting point!

If you were assigned female at birth, but don’t identify as a woman, you can still take part. To us it doesn’t matter which gender you identify with, but having grown up as a girl/woman most likely meant that you grew up in a world with certain stereotypes and certain opportunities – in terms of practical skills – that were opened or closed for you. If you would like to get in touch with any queries, don’t hesitate to ask here!

All of our tutors are Tradeswomen who work 5 days a week and need a break to continue working the next week. So in short, we need to have days off as well. Also, if we worked on weekends but took weekdays off, we would never actually see our families and children!

Our courses are mainly held near Moretonhampstead on Dartmoor, which is a popular tourist destination so therefore has plenty of places to stay for visitors. Here are a few of the available options:

Camping – Three Hares Campsite , Sweet Meadows campsite (campspace.com)

Airbnb – Airbnb | Moretonhampstead – Holiday Rentals & Places to Stay – England

Old Post House B&B – book directly with Sue Carling for a discount at shacarling18@gmail.com or 01647 440900

We have a few online courses which can be found here.

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