An 18-year-old joiner from Cheadle Hulme in Stockport has returned from Uganda after filling two suitcases with £400 of donated tools and spending 10 days building, welding and teaching his trade to young people at a children's charity in Kampala.
Joel Hulley travelled out with Watoto, a Ugandan organisation that takes in children from newborns up to the age of 16 and provides them with a home, a family and an education. He went through Ford's Lane Evangelical Church in Bramhall, the church he has attended since he was born.
Weeks after returning, Joel qualified as a joiner — just 18 months into his apprenticeship with Federation of Master Builders member Hende Building Services Ltd, based in Stockport.
He flew out with 50kg of hand tools and fixings, most of it donated by Howdens, with more from local ironmongers Cooksons and from his employer, who also sent branded workwear for the charity's maintenance team to keep.
Once in Uganda, Joel spent most of his time welding, but also taught joinery classes to teenagers younger than himself.
Joel said: "A lot of the lads there were really happy to see it, because their teachers were all older men. Then they finally have a lad close to their age come in and teach them the same things. I think it really helped a few of the younger ones out."
He added: "It was a really nice feeling to show lads younger than me what they might be able to do in the future — and that they can get to the positions I've been in."
Nobody in Joel's family works in the building trade, and his grandparents initially tried to talk him out of it.
Joel said: "My grandparents were quite against me doing it. My parents told them it's his life, let him do it. Now I've qualified, been to Africa with it and shown them everything I've built, they're really happy about it."
He had a message for teenagers weighing up A-levels against a trade.
Joel said: "I thought it would be worth me spending time doing something I actually like, rather than getting a grade and not being able to get a job. I can do a college course and get paid while I learn, and it will set me up for the rest of my life."
Joel's employer, Ian Henderson of Hende, helped source the tool donations, paid the trip as holiday rather than the unpaid leave Joel had originally booked, and is now sponsoring him through his Level 3 advanced craft qualification at Macclesfield College.
Ian Henderson said: "We've had a few apprentices over the years, and some good ones but he is the pick of the bunch. He's punctual, he's organised, his tools are clean and tidy. He's looked like a joiner from day one: tape on his belt, pencil behind his ear."
He said: "What resonated with me is that when I was an apprentice I never got any help. I had a day's pay knocked off and I paid my own fees. I was determined that this company would help him."
Ian Henderson added: "Taking a young person on is probably one of the most responsible things you can do as an employer, and the satisfaction of watching them develop is amazing. The majority of our workforce is now over 50. Every builder out there has to give young people a chance."
Carolyn Frank, FMB North Director concluded:
“Our members, professional builders, are a great inspiration to the next generation, and invest so much into the future talent of the industry by sharing their skills, mentoring and support to young people entering the world of work. Smaller firms can give all round support to their apprentices as well as teaching them the technical skills they need, and are the best place to learn a trade. Ian, and now Joel too, are both shining examples of the highly professional and reputable builders who we champion at the Federation of Master Builders and we are proud to congratulate Joel on his achievements.
Ian Henderson intends to enter Joel for the FMB Master Builder Awards in 2027.
Ian Henderson intends to enter Joel for the FMB Master Builder Awards in 2027.
ENDS
