In conversation with Danielle, Managing Director of Glasgow Wood

In February 2025, we were pleased to announce that Danielle had stepped in to become our Managing Director.

March 2025 was officially Danielle’s 10 year work anniversary too! Throughout this time, she’s progressed through the ranks to become the key woman looking after all of Glasgow Woods finances. Now in the top position of Managing Director, we catch up with her (briefly!) about what she’s learnt in her time here and what might be next.

Tell us about how you first joined Glasgow Wood, and how it’s changed since then.

“I’d just graduated college in a HND Beauty Therapy, and began volunteering with Momentum skills when the funding became available for an Admin position at Glasgow Wood.

When I first started, there were several staff here on funded positions including myself, so it was really nice not to be the only newbie!

But since COVID, this hasn’t been much of an option due to funding availability, and the team has drastically reduced as a result. But like anyone else that’s operating just now, we’ve had to learn to adapt. We’re continually looking for more effective ways to work, alongside producing a massively diverse range of products and bespoke pieces.

There’s really not much we haven’t built!”

Has there been any particularly memorable moments when you were proud, or had maybe seen first-hand the positive impact/s of Glasgow Wood?

There’s so many memories I could recall over my 10 years here. But I have to say, the most memorable has to be seeing our volunteers move on to employment. I think that’s what’s kept me here all those years. It’s incredible how much confidence they’ve built by the time they’re ready to leave.”

Head over to our Volunteer Stories to hear about the progressions that have been made over the years.

Can you recall a particularly challenging moment, and how you overcame it?

“COVID! Obviously no one could open their doors due to the rules in place, but due to the nature of Glasgow Wood, we were able to remain open with skeleton staff.

With everyone working from home, there was a huge demand for reclaimed timber with people doing their own DIY projects. We quickly discovered how creative our customers are!

I remember a guy ordering a giant whisky barrel, and he arrived in a Mini. A Mini!! And we couldn’t help him for obvious reasons. But he did it – I remember him driving off with the roof down and the barrel sticking out. An image I wish I’d taken a photo of.”

DURING COVID

“For us, it was so important that we keep an income coming in to Glasgow Wood, to keep providing that place for our volunteers to come to.

For some of them, Glasgow Wood is their family, they don’t really have people to go to otherwise. Whatever was going on, we had to make sure we were still here when everything would eventually open up.

And with endless customer enquiries, how could we not give them what we wanted – we had a timber yard full of it! I’d take all the calls/emails and process orders whilst Peter would run around looking out what’d be needed, putting them outside for customers to collect! It was a crazy time, and we’ve learnt a lot since then.”

What do you think Glasgow Wood will be doing in the next two decades?

“In the next 20 years, we’ll have more involvement in community projects; more advanced training for volunteers, and hopefully employ a bigger team to keep doing good with wood – building furniture that reflects what people are looking for.

There’s so much opportunity for diversifying our range and building furniture to meet the demand. It’s just a case of finding it! Our workshops programme is one, we’re so excited to see that develop in 2026.

But primarily we’re really keen to keep finding new ways to utilise waste wood while training up our community to get people into employment. Glasgow Wood’s work is so vital in so many ways.”

What’s your latest Crowdfunding campaign about?

“Glasgow Wood sits in a really unique place – I don’t know any other businesses like us that exist in Scotland.

On one side, we’re a charity and social enterprise providing a place for people experiencing barriers to employment to volunteer, learn new skills, become more confident and feel part of a family – like they belong.

But on the other, we’re a business with a trading income. We take all sorts of waste timber, process it, prepare it, and either use it for our own furniture or bespoke pieces, or make it available to purchase from our timber yard. It’s a very unique place we find ourselves in!

“Why would funding bodies provide us with funding when the majority of other charities and social enterprises don’t have a form of income at all?

And as a trading business like any other, we’re not protected from rising costs. So we’re looking to fundraising to help us make up the shortfall and keep us doing good with wood – for both the community and planet.

With rewards available alongside the opportunity to just simply donate, we really hope you’ll be able to support us with this campaign.

And if you don’t have capacity yourself, we’d be endlessly grateful if you could share with your networks.

With the Aviva Community Fund matching donations up to £250, it’s a great way to boost your donation.

Head to our Crowdfunder to watch the video, learn more and see the rewards.