Edinburgh Tool Library’s top borrowed tools of 2025!
Thank you to everyone who borrowed tools, together we’re creating a more sustainable Edinburgh 
If you’d like to get involved in tool borrowing, join ETL here:
Top Tools!
Tag: Edinburgh Tool Library
War Without Bullets screening
FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 5.30pm
WAR WITHOUT BULLETS
Join Edinburgh Tool Library and The Crannie for a screening of a powerful short film, War Without Bullets, about Glaswegian activist Cathy McCormack – who transformed her fight against poor housing conditions in her own community into a global movement for health justice.
The film will be accompanied by food and an open conversation about our experiences and hopes for our own homes, and our struggles and successes with fighting for safe and healthy housing conditions.
There will be more information about housing and energy advice at the event if you have any specific questions about your own situation.
12 Sept, 5.30pm
TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/war-without-bullets-tickets-1423433551069?aff=oddtdtcreator
Edinburgh Tool Library: Donations Wanted
Have you got tools gathering dust or taking up space that could be used for other things? 
We’re open for inventory donations and are happy to provide a new home to your unwanted but working and well looked after tools 
Donating your unwanted or no longer needed tools to ETL allows us to give them a new lease of life. We are incredibly grateful for all tools we receive from donations, and the difference they allow us to make, whether that be in our community builds, repair projects and our ever-growing tool borrowing service. 
Check out the list of tools we are currently looking for – our tools wishlist at:
https://edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk/donations
Know someone who may have unwanted tools to donate? Sharing this post goes a long way to helping us grow our tool library and is greatly appreciated! 
Edinburgh Tool Library announces new base at The Pitt
Something’s landed in Granton at The Pitt… 
It’s a new storage container that will enable us to expand our borrowing and skill-sharing services across Edinburgh.
This isn’t just any ordinary container, though: We purchased it from our pals at Move On Wood Recycling, giving their former wood storage container a new lease of life.
Remember when we hosted our van-tastic (sorry) Con-VAN-tion at the Pitt Market last year? Well, we’ve been plotting behind the scenes ever since, and we’re buzzing about having a base in such a vibrant spot.
The excitement doesn’t stop either, because this new extra space we’re now also accepting tool donations again! Got tools in good working order gathering dust?
We’d love to give them a new life helping neighbours across the city.
Please email us at hello@edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk
Edinburgh Tool Library: Repairmongery programme feedback
Over the last 9 months we have been piloting our Repairmongery programme in Leith supported by Leith Chooses. This programme offered repair services for broken household items, plus was a great research opportunity to see if this service would be something we could sustain long term as we asked everyone who visited what they would be willing to pay.
At ETL we believe that products should last longer and so when broken, they should be repaired. And thus the Repairmongery was born!
In total we had 7 open days in the last 9 months where people living and working in Leith could drop off their broken items. We received 88 items (of which 8 items were not broken in the first place !!) but from the 80 broken items our repair technician was able to repair a whopping 73% 
As for how much people were willing to pay for a repair, an interesting thing we learned was that this was more heavily influenced by the financial or sentimental value of the item rather than by the amount of work needed to repair it. Overall, it seems people were eager to have items repaired rather than having to dispose of them and buy replacements.
Whilst our Leith Repairmongery has come to an end, the Repairmongery in Portobello and Craigmillar supported by Action Porty is still running for one last intake day on Friday 25th April this week.
We’ll be sending out a feedback form to collect your feedback in the coming month and help us reflect on these two pilots.
Edinburgh Tool Library: Tools for Life mentorship programme
Apply today to join our Tools for Life mentorship programme to learn the basic and fundamental skills of woodworking and DIY.
The Spring 2023 Tools For Life programme begins on Thursday 21st of March and will run for 12 weeks. The weekly sessions are on Thursday from 13.00 – 16.00 at our Porty Workshop. The programme is open to young people age 16 – 25 years old and best of all is FREE!
To apply, follow the link in our bio or head to :http://edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk/tools-for-life
Applications are due on Tuesday 27th of February. We are always very happy to talk you through your application and give feedback. If you prefer a different format of answering the application form, for example in audio or video format, you are very welcome to do so.
If you would like to visit the workshop beforehand there will be an Open Day on Thursday the 15th February at the Porty workshop from 14.00 – 16.00 where you can ask any questions and get a feel if the mentorship would be something for you.
As the spaces are limited, and we want each participant to make the most out of this free programme we do ask of each participant to attend every weekly session. So please triple check your calendars and existing commitments before applying.
Any questions please contact janet@edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk
ID: (1) Yellow background with the text Tools For Life, the words are surrounded by tools. (2) Two participants of our current Tools for Life cohort measuring there wood ( 3) Participant using a circular saw with support from Mentor Alys (4) Happy participant showing a drill and current woodworking project
#Tooligans
#employability
#SharingEcosystem
#SharingIsCaring
Cycle Kitchen: Edinburgh Tool Library receives boost from Scottish Building Society Foundation
A local charity has been awarded nearly £5,000 to combat transport poverty across the city. The Edinburgh Tool Library will benefit to the tune of £4,985 from the Scottish Building Society Foundation.
The project – Cycle Kitchen – will see the development of a series of cycle maintenance courses aimed at tackling transport poverty, promoting bicycle tool proficiency, and fostering self-reliance in the community.
The grant provided by the Scottish Building Society Foundation will be used to cover the training costs for three volunteers to obtain professional cycle mechanic certifications, as well as funding the purchase of workstation tools, training kits. Additionally, the funding will contribute to employing a project coordinator who will oversee volunteers, assist in course development and training, and organise community events to promote the course.
Scottish Building Society Foundation was established by Scottish Building Society in partnership with Foundation Scotland, which is designed to give back to Scottish communities.
Launched in May 2023 to align with the organisation’s 175th anniversary, an incredible £175,000 will be granted to local charities, causes and organisations across Scotland.
The first phase of funding attracted 44 applications from across 11 local authority areas of Scotland, with nine successful applicants chosen to receive individual grants of up to £5,000 to help their cause.
Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, said: “As part of our 175th anniversary celebrations, we wanted to mark the occasion with an incentive that upholds our core value of giving back to the communities.
“Edinburgh Tool Library’s Cycle Kitchen is a fantastic cause and it’s great to see it being supported by the Scottish Building Society Foundation with funding.
“In the first round, we’re encouraged at the volume of interest from a variety of inspiring community groups and charities across Scotland and look forward to seeing how they use the funding to make positive impact. With the second round, we hope to see this go even further.
“The Scottish Building Society Foundation whilst in its infancy, we hope will make a big difference to many people across the country and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Foundation Scotland to grow the incentive in the years ahead.
“By investing in good causes, we are building stronger communities.”
Thomas Bartels, Project Coordinator at Edinburgh Tool Library, said: “Bringing Cycle Kitchen to life allows us to empower individuals seeking equality in transportation options. We’re here to facilitate those who may be curious about cycling as a means of transportation but are uncertain about bike maintenance.
“Most importantly, for those looking for more affordable and sustainable alternatives to public transport or car ownership, Cycle Kitchen offers a chance to experience a free and health-conscious mode of travel from point A to B.”
For more information on the Scottish Building Society Foundation or to make an application, visit: https://www.scottishbs.co.uk/scottish-building-society-foundation
Building stronger social connections
Organisations awarded share of £3.2 million fund
More than 50 projects tackling social isolation and loneliness throughout Scotland have received a share of a new fund.
Edinburgh recipients of Social Isolation and Loneliness Funding include Big Hearts Community Trust, Edinburgh Tool Library, Pilmeny Development Project, Pilton Community Health Project and The Living Memory Association.
Activities delivered by the organisations include community choirs, walking football, Men’s Sheds and volunteering opportunities.
Equalities Minister Emma Roddick visited Inverness Foodstuff, one of the successful projects, to see the impact of their work and hear how support through the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund will benefit the local community.
Ms Roddick said: “Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, but especially those most affected by the cost of living crisis such as disabled people, younger people, and those who live alone.
“The Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund is providing support to a range of projects across Scotland which deliver vital services in their communities. Inverness Foodstuff is a great example of how this Scottish Government funding will help to bring more people together, creating stronger social connections and improving public health.
“We are determined to tackle the harm caused by this hidden problem and this Fund is just one of the actions we are taking to help tackle social isolation and loneliness through our plan, Recovering our Connections.”
Inverness Foodstuff has been awarded a grant of £72,000 to deliver their lunch club twice a week in the Hilton area of Inverness. The lunch club will benefit an estimated 2,400 homeless and vulnerable people in the area over the duration of the Fund.
Chair of Inverness Foodstuff Stuart Black said: “Inverness Foodstuff has operated from Ness Bank Church since 2015 offering hot food three times a week, utilising surplus food.
“But, it’s more than just a meal. We offer access to clothing, debt relief, IT support, mental health support, housing and homelessness support and access to hairdressing. Inverness Foodstuff also provides 75 volunteering opportunities.
“Over the past year we have served 8,500 meals in our city centre premises, an increase of 58% compared to 2021-22. This reflects the cost of living crisis and the extent of poverty in our city.
“We are delighted to gain Scottish Government funding to expand our service into Hilton, a recognised area of need, in partnership with Highlife Highland.”
Edinburgh Tool Library offers a ladder of opportunity
CELEBRATION EVENT AT PORTOBELLO WORKSHOP TOMORROW EVENING
The Edinburgh Tool Library is exactly what it sounds like: a library, but for tools. Instead of books, members can borrow a huge range of hand and power tools – from circular saws to sewing machines – all free of charge.
Inspiration for Edinburgh’s Tool Library came after Chris Hellawell, Founder and Director of Edinburgh Tool Library, visited the Toronto Tool Library during a family holiday. Chris not only saw the need for freely available tools in his own community, Leith, he had the vision of the wider environmental, financial and social value a tool library could bring.
Unlike his Canadian counterparts, Chris did not have a stock of tools, or premises to store and loan tools from, but his drive to help others inspired his next move:
“Giving people access to equipment means handing them the potential to better their living environment and potentially their lives” says Chris. “That could be as simple as putting up a shelf or hanging some pictures, or as life-changing as giving someone the tools and the chance of holding down a job. I just knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Chris used his resourcefulness to collect donated tools and stored them in his living room. And instead of renting premises he created an online tool inventory and hired a police box on Leith Walk once a week from where tools could be collected!
Since then, Chris hasn’t looked back and has built Edinburgh Tool Library from the ground up into the thriving charity it is today. With a loan depot in Meadowbank, and workshops in Portobello and Leith, the library has grown to include more than 2,000 tools which are borrowed regularly by 1,400 members from all walks of life, saving members a collective £1.5m compared to the cost of buying those tools!
An overall reduction of around 180T CO2, the equivalent of driving a car around the world 180 times. And with the cost-of-living crisis becoming an escalating challenge, Edinburgh Tool Library is fast becoming a lifeline for many.
Not only has Chris’s environmental and economic vision become a reality, its social impact is undeniable.
Much like a book library, Edinburgh Tool Library is a hub around which the community gathers. The year-round community and outreach programme offers workshops designed to reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing, champion diversity and most importantly provide opportunities for communities to come together to learn new life and employability skills.
Projects such as “Nailing It!” work with women’s support groups around the city teaching DIY skills, building confidence and encouraging women to participate in woodwork, often for the first time. Or ‘Tools for Life’ – a programme matching a young unemployed person with barriers to work, with an older, retired person, who has skills to pass on to the trainee, helping them to build confidence and learn new skills.
Run in large by its 50+ volunteers, the love and commitment of these volunteers was never more evident than during the pandemic. The Edinburgh Tool Library put it’s resources towards hot meal, and art pack delivery, as well as providing logistical support to the Edinburgh Mask Makers volunteer group, helping over 17,000 masks reach key workers across the central belt.
This kindness is also evident in the membership framework. The charity charges members £30 per year to borrow tools and to gain free access to their workshop programme, along with invites to community social events.
Members can also buy a ‘£40 pay it forward’ membership which includes a reduced £10 membership fee for those facing financial hardship. All membership income is ploughed back into supporting the charity’s environmental and social objectives.
For those interested in becoming a member or supporting their charitable work through their fun ‘Adopt a Tool’ scheme, visit edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk or email them on hello@edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk.
Or pop along to their celebration event at their Portobello Workshop (19 Windsor Place, EH15 2AJ) tomorrow – Thursday 27th October (5 – 8pm) – where they will welcome you in, show you their fantastic workshop facilities and introduce you to their friendly team!
Novus picks up the tools for Edinburgh charity challenge winner
National maintenance and compliance contractor Novus Property Solutions has completed its work on the Edinburgh Tool Library – the latest recipient of its Built Back Better initiative – in partnership with Places for People.
Novus’ Build Back Better challenge supports charities, community projects and vulnerable people under the three key themes of reducing poverty, good health and wellbeing, and environmental action.
As part of the initiative, Novus is encouraging its colleagues, clients, supply chain and the wider community to nominate deserving causes across the UK to receive funding – with Edinburgh Tool Library chosen to be a challenge winner by the contractor’s review panel.
The fourth flagship project to benefit from the initiative since its launch in February 2021, the Edinburgh Tool Library operates in the same way as a normal library but distributes tools rather than books.
It allows the public to borrow a variety of tools including drills and sanders, as well as hosting a range of classes and workshops where members of the community can learn and take part in non-tool related sessions including for mental health.
Novus’ team recently completed the repainting and decorating of the library’s new, expanded premises – donating labour and materials, with the refurbishment completed in March and a launch event in April. The contractor will also continue to work with Edinburgh Tool Library in the future by hosting workshops for users.
Commenting on the project, Charlie Cooley, Head of Operations at Novus Property Solutions, said: “We are delighted to be able to carry out a refurbishment of Edinburgh Tool Library’s much-needed expanded premises, creating a fantastic space for users to not only easily access the tools they need but also to improve their wellbeing.
“The library encourages the reuse of tools for the benefit of the environment, as well as empowering members of the public to carry out their own DIY projects and providing mental health support to those who need it – closely aligning with the key themes of Build Back Better.
“As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on giving back to the communities in which we work and we’re looking forward to continuing to support the Edinburgh Tool Library in the future.”
Chris Hellawell, Director at Edinburgh Tool Library, added: “The Edinburgh Tool Library is extremely grateful to the team from Novus, who worked tirelessly to a very tight deadline to ensure the new library was looking fantastic in time for our launch.
“Our goal to make sharing a mainstream activity is only enhanced by spaces where people want to spend time and feel welcome, and our new Meadowbank Tool Library really looks the part.”
Novus is now accepting nominations for charities and community organisations that would benefit from the company’s support for the fifth Build Back Better challenge via its website.
For more details visit The Build Back Better Challenge | Novus Property Solutions (novussolutions.co.uk)
For further information visit www.novussolutions.co.uk