Our Story

Yodomo is a social venture on a mission to increase wellbeing and promote the understanding of reuse of materials by facilitating wider participation in making and crafts. We believe that making is good for you and good for the planet.

The word 'Yodomo' is a portmanteau of the words 'You Do More'. We encourage participation in crafts and making by bringing the expertise of independent artists and makers directly to you. Our makers teach either online, through kits or at live events.

Our work falls into four key areas: Making and Reuse of Materials, Making and Wellbeing, Making in the Community and our professional programme - The Making a Living Programme™

We love a collaboration so don't be afraid to get in touch!

Yodomo is a social venture

In 2021 we completed the Cambridge Social Ventures programme (run by the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, University of Cambridge Judge Business School) and became a social venture.

We work to meet the targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Last year we were awarded ‘Highly Commended’ at the Tech4Good Awards.

To find out more about our plans to fulfil our social mission you can read more here.

Yodomo and Reuse

Yodomo supports makers in growing their practices sustainably and encourages reusing materials wherever possible. Our makers look to work sustainably and many actively promote repair and reuse.

In 2022 we have grown our work within the circular economy, taking waste (as an Environment Agency registered waste broker) or surplus materials and sharing materials with the maker community to encourage reuse. We are now working with over 40 businesses and local authorities to help them close the loop on waste. Get in touch if you're a business looking at support with reassessing your waste processes and capturing important data for ESG reporting.

Yodomo is currently working on its own updated and extended Sustainability Procurement Policy with support from ReLondon.

Making and wellbeing

Engaging in creative projects boosts mood, productivity and focus. Our vision is for a future where more of us reconnect to the power and benefits of making with our hands.

The links between crafts and wellbeing are well documented. 3 in 4 people feel happier after engaging with a creative activity and research demonstrates making can increase productivity, memory and mood. Even the briefest time spent on a creative pastime has an impact on our wellbeing and emotions (BBC/UCL Research 2019). WHO acknowledges global evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being (WHO Research 2019).

In 2021, we helped launch the KnitforMentalHealth shop working with Jane George and her team, selling goods knitted from reused yarn raising £30k+ supporting UK mental health charities.

Growing Participation in Making

We deliver participatory workshops for clients such as the V&A, Innocent, Ticketmaster, Gravity Road and more. We also supply engaging making workshops for live events such as Life Lessons at the Barbican, Birch, ALSO Festival and SAMPLE Hemingway.

We also work on community projects partnering with NHS and Eastwick and Sweetwater to bring mindful making activities to local residents. Our work with the London Borough of Hackney has seen us engage 700+ 'creative reuse' members and supported local people with free materials to create new items.

If you're looking to engage a team or community, revitalise a high street or create a compelling brand activation then get in touch.

The Making a Living Programme™

Yodomo runs The Making a Living Programme™ supporting makers in growing their crafts and maker businesses. The programme accompanies the book 'Making a Living: How to Craft your Business' published by Hachette, highly commended at the Business Book Awards 2022.

The Making a Living programme also supports our makers who sell kits and online courses through Yodomo's Marketplace.

Makers and crafts people can join the online community for free and find useful templates, business support and sign up for peer-to-peer events around specific subject areas such as pricing or sustainability.

Join The Making a Living Programme™ here