Future Makers: Julius - From Trellick Tower to the Highlands
FUTURE MAKERS | Stories from Goldfinger Academy's award-winning Future Makers traineeships - a free outreach programme, providing training, career guidance, mentoring and work experience to young people in our community.
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Creating a handwoven stool as part of our Future Makers traineeship in May 2024.
Julius - From Trellick Tower to the Highlands
At the beginning of 2024, we met Julius through a referral from the nearby Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team. A local resident eager to explore opportunities in woodworking and design, we invited Julius to visit our workshop, meet our makers and find out more about the potential career pathways that were open to him.
Julius then signed up for our May Future Makers traineeship, spending a week with us learning hands-on design skills and crafting a hand-woven stool under the guidance of furniture makers Daniele Barco and Chiara Raponi.
“[Future Makers] opened my eyes to what I could achieve if I were to pursue woodworking and put making in my mind as a path in life.”
- Julius
In the workshop.
Julius proved himself to be not only passionate about design, but an incredible team player, and we were so pleased to invite him back to join us as a paid Workshop Assistant, helping to facilitate our July traineeship for the next group of Future Makers trainees.
“I enjoyed being on the teaching side of the traineeships - it was great to have the chance to help others understand the process. I learned how to manage several groups of people and make sure no one is stuck on anything.”
- Julius
Supporting our 2024 summer traineeships, guiding the next cohort of Future Makers trainees to build benches inspired by our Trellick Tower home.
Julius then took part in our special Future Makers social event, spending an afternoon learning the art of Japanese carpentry with Emi Shinmura. We were so delighted to hear that following this, Emi then asked Julius to join her team on a live carpentry project up in Scotland, helping to build a lenticular wooden bridge, putting his skills and experience to the test in the great outdoors.
“My experiences with Goldfinger had given me confidence in my ability to learn and adapt, and I was able to use my experience and understanding of measuring, using drills and handsaws on furniture [to work] on the bridge.”
- Julius
Learning Japanese Carpentry with Emi Shinmura.
On site in the Highlands.
We couldn’t be prouder of everything Julius has achieved, becoming a true professional in merely a matter of months (and even representing the Goldfinger team at the Social Enterprise UK awards, where we were shortlisted for the 'Prove it Social Impact' award.
“[Future Makers] has opened doors for me both literally and metaphorically. I’ve learned that woodworking is something that I am able to do and Goldfinger has put me in contact with great people... I am definitely confident that my skills have increased as well as my understanding.”
- Julius
Supporting Goldfinger at the Social Enterprise UK awards, alongside Goldfinger's Community Outreach Programme Manager, Effy Harle.
Julius’ story is a testament to everything we try to do with our Future Makers programme: breaking down barriers to entry and helping young people to take the first steps towards meaningful careers in sustainable design and making. With your support, we can make an even bigger difference.
Supporting Future Makers means helping more young people like Julius to take the first steps towards careers in design and making. Here's how you can get involved:
- Help a young person take their first steps into woodworking and design by referring them to our Future Makers traineeships. They can stay up to date on our Academy programmes by signing up to our newsletter, or following us on Instagram.
- Create more opportunities by funding places, tools, and materials, directly opening doors for more young people who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
- Support the next generation of designers and makers by sponsoring a one-week Future Makers traineeship and even step in as a “Dragon” at our end-of-programme pitch day.
Get in touch with Chris, our Head of Impact, to discuss how you can make a lasting impact.
