Westbrook near Hay on Wye, HR3 5SY01497 831 752stay@westbrookcourt.co.uk
SheBuilds: Women's DIY Weekend
In partnership with Fred Luckman - master crafter and carpenter
Friday 25th October 2024 - 3 days, 2 nights
Friday 8th March 2025 - 3 days, 2 nights
We are delighted to offer a three day DIY course for beginners for homemakers who want to gain confidence in learning the basics of of DIY across a weekend workshop making firm friends while you are at it!
In the safe hands of Fred, you will be learning how to put up shelves and pictures and curtain rails, and learn and practice basic plumbing skills like changing stopcocks, bleeding radiators and much more so by the end of the busy workshop weekend, you can be confident in how to use drills, saws, basic plumbing tools to allow you to DIY with knowledge at home.
At Westbrook Court Country House, we offer boutique accommodation in the picturesque Golden Valley of Herefordshire. You can choose your room set up including king size ensuite rooms or twin share with ensuite or shared bathrooms.
The skills you learn on this weekend away will equip you forever with the basic skills to keep a well maintained home without having to call out a handyman!
You will enjoy:
- Three days of essential DIY skills alternated with enjoyable social time with like minded new friends.
- Two nights’ accommodation in boutique accommodation
- Continental buffet breakfast each morning
- Two wholesome lunches
- Two social two course suppers with sharing plates
- Cake and tea/coffee each afternoon
- Use of our large gardens’ relaxation areas for quiet contemplation or admiring the far views
- Our cedar clad fresh water hot tub and large kadai area for star gazing in our dark skies area.
- Optional extras of beauty and spa treatments on an evening of your retreat.
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Itinerary for SheBuilds: Womens DIY Weekend
Friday
Arrival from 2.00pm
4.00pm to 5.30pm Icebreaker - who are we with a great icebreaker creative name plaque activity
7.00 pm Evening Meal - Sharing plates catered
Saturday
9.00am Leisurely breakfast – continental breakfast buffet in dining hall
10.00am Group check in and Introduction to basic DIY tools:
Cordless Drivers, Hand Saws, Stud Wall Detectors and Levels , types of timber used in DIY, fitting shelves,
curtain poles and brackets to timber, masonry and plasterboard, how to find stud timbers
12.30pm Shared communal lunch
2.00pm Introduction to drilling into masonry, using SDS power drill, introduction to the benefits of a chop saw and how to use jigsaws.
Jigsawing out hand redwood plaques and using pyrography to create plaques
4.30pm Tea and cake
7.00 pm – Sharing Supper in dining hall
Evening at your leisure, enjoy the hot tub, watch a movie, relax in the communal lounge or in your room
Sunday
9.00am Leisurely breakfast – continental breakfast buffet in dining hall
10.30am Home Plumbing Day including overview of common plumbing systems and pipe connections, bleeding radiators.
12.30pm Shared lunch in the dining hall
1.30pm More Home Plumbing including simple boiler repairs, plumbing in a sink, fitting outside taps plus more!
4.00pm Departure
About your hosts...
Fred Luckman
Artisan crafter and carpenter
I am a creative Dad (with five kids), carpenter, trainer, counsellor and lover of life! I was brought up on a farm in North Wales near Llangollen, where I learnt building skills directly from an old Irish Carpenter, Bill Slawyn using traditional methods and tools.
In my twenties I worked in high tech engineering, before training as a psychotherapist and worked in various clinics. I love working with groups and enjoy creating highly interactive, engaging, and fun workshops. I have designed and facilitated many women's only groups.
For 15 years I have managed a building business in which I have employed several women. I specialise in building timber structures from Welsh Wood. I also run men's wellbeing service funded by the Health Board which includes setting up men's workshop, men's sheds and woodwork activities.
The DIY workshops for women started in September 2019. I have now facilitated courses for well over 320 women from as far away as Oxford and London. The demand post lockdown is ever increasing!!
I love it, and the women who attend these fun, fast moving, hands on learning and social experiences do too!!
I look forward to meeting and working with you soon.
www.diyforwomen.co.uk
Kari Trajer Morgan
Interior Designer & Small business owner
I am Australian born and bred, but my London background was in corporate and residential lettings alongside several of my own home renovations and Buy to Lets, learning some tricks when DIY’ing.
I moved to Hay on Wye in 2011 with my toddler daughter and husband and we fell in love with this dilapidated old house in this stunning local landscape and found a great community within the Golden Valley of Herefordshire. We’ve completely renewed and redeveloped the whole of Westbrook Court alongside a trusted team of contractors, to create a welcoming hospitality business for a range of demographic of guests..
I’m an experienced interior designer and project manager with my own development business Westbrook Interiors and I’m the creative mind behind and the co-business owner of Westbrook Court Country House. I'm also a maker and creator of some DIY projects of my own!
I am really excited to be co-hosting this fun and skill learning retreat with my new chum Fred and to help empower women to become more independent in learning simple DIY skills which you can use again at home with growing confidence.. of picking up a drill, hammer, wrench, whatever…
So… Welcome to Westbrook Court!
www.westbrook-interiors.co.uk
All inclusive prices
£595 per person sharing a twin with ensuite – bring a friend! (4 rooms)
£695 per person in own guest room with shared bathroom (3 rooms)
£795 per person in own guest room with ensuite (2 rooms)
