FOLLOWING the success of a pilot training programme, providing work experience for youngsters, the organisers are keen to find new venues.
Trades4Care started a scheme offering care facilities and community buildings an opportunity for a spruce up while also providing training and work experience to students at Bishop Auckland College. The company is the brainchild of Andrew Coxon, who realised that many colleges struggle to find work experience places for their students and decided to bridge the gap.
Mr Coxon said: “The project has been set up to provide a programme of holistic, practical and lifeskills support to young people in our area.
“We successfully received funding from the Gaunless Gateway Big Local Partnership and financial commitment from the local college at Bishop Auckland. We now have funding in place for four programmes to be delivered over the next eight months.”
Stainton Village Hall was one of two community buildings which has benefitted from a makeover.
Mr Coxon said 24 students have been selected to work in partnership with local time-served and hand-picked Trades4Care contractors but they are in need of buildings or projects to work on. Those taking part don’t get the work done for nothing but the company says but by taking part they help youngsters get experience.
Mr Coxon said: “We’re looking for work projects, ideally from community, care and education. Our students, with our contractors, can do painting and decorating, specialist cleaning and light restoration of carpet, upholstery, natural stone and hard flooring as well as general maintenance.”
He added finding venues that fitted the criteria would be the final “piece in the jigsaw”.
Mr Coxon said: “The work will be carried out by the suitably qualified and experienced trade person and you can benefit in the knowledge that you are supporting young people into employment or an apprenticeship. If you have a job or would like more information on how the Trades4Care programme works we would love to hear from you.”
For information on the Trades4Care scheme, contact Andrew Coxon on 077725 113352 or Charilie Wright on 07905 027074 or visit www.trades4care.co.uk
