Rhubard Seating: Social Enterprise in Practice

What do a school, a prison, a power distribution solutions provider and a seating manufacturer have in common?  They certainly are not the most immediately obvious partners, but in this case there was a school with a need, and the others had the means to fulfil that need. 

As an ongoing part of their sustainability programme, Lord Williams School in Thame, Oxon had created a wild flower garden in its courtyard, creating a tranquil and educational space for students to enjoy and study. They approached Rhubarb Seating, a local manufacturer, to ask if they would be able to make eco-friendly wooden benches and planters to surround the area because they wanted seating to complement the environmentally-friendly ethos. 

Rhubarb does not normally manufacture outdoor seating but had an idea for benches to be constructed from reclaimed timber and they knew that Lucy Electric, based just round the corner, had high-quality, heavy-duty pallets they could be persuaded to put to good use. 

Rhubarb had also recently connected with Huntercombe Prison near Henley-on-Thames, which operates a woodshop where prisoners gain valuable skills through woodworking projects.  The prison has previously produced planters from reclaimed wood and was eager to take on this new challenge.

With the necessary elements all aligned, the plan was set in motion. Rhubarb undertook the design of the bench and planter system, Lucy Electric donated the timber, and the prisoners at Huntercombe Prison manufactured it.  By the end of August, a team from Rhubarb had installed the completed seating and planters and the project’s outcome reflect a truly positive social enterprise effort:

The School: Lord Williams School now boasts a stunning wildflower garden surrounded by environmentally sustainable benches, creating a peaceful and educational space for students.

– Sustainability: Timber that would otherwise have been discarded has been repurposed into high-quality seating, promoting environmental responsibility.

– Prisoner Rehabilitation: Prisoners at Huntercombe Prison gained valuable training and experience, which will support their rehabilitation and enhance their future employment prospects.

The result is a beautiful, socially conscious transformation that highlights the power of collaboration between schools, local businesses, and social enterprises.

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Lord Williams School said:

“Lord Williams’s Lower School is thrilled with the new addition of seating designed by Rhubarb Seating, made by the inmates of Huntercombe with the support of Lucy Electric. The design and materials are perfectly aligned with the school’s strong commitment to eco-friendliness and sustainability for years to come.”

Mr P. Sri Lankan Prisoner at Huntercombe said:

“I really enjoyed the project on the seating, and really happy to do something that helps children. It was a hard job as I have very little experience of woodwork until I came here , but I enjoy the challenge along with the rest of the men who helped and would be happy to do more projects like this again.” 

Polish prisoner at Huntercombe said: 

 “I was the foreman on this project, and I enjoyed helping to allocate tasks to the others. I was very happy to be involved with this project because it was for children, and I thought how it would be if it was for my own children.”  

Christiana Padilla, Lucy Group CSR Manager said:

“Lucy Electric is thrilled to have contributed to this wonderful project. Together with Rhubarb seating, we’ve helped create a sustainable and beautiful space for the students while also supporting meaningful work for the inmates at Huntercombe Prison. It’s a fantastic example of community collaboration, and we’re proud to be part of it.”  

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About Alys Bryan

Alys is a knowledgeable design editor who is focused on instigating conversations, both online and in-person, with industry experts which challenge, educate and advance the commercial interior sector. Her training and 15 years of professional experience as a furniture designer for the commercial sector makes her uniquely placed to lead Design Insider as Editor
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