FOUR village venues in Teesdale enjoyed a spruce up during the past year thanks to a scheme that offers on-the-job-training for aspiring decorators.
Along with village halls in Copley, Winston, Ingleton and Stainton, Raby Estates facilities also enjoyed a makeover through the Trades4Care project.
The scheme sees skilled professionals sharing their knowledge with students from Bishop Auckland College while offering a valuable refurbishing service to care homes and community venues.
Along with the five premises in Teesdale, the project also helped out at Auckland Youth and Community Centre and Bridge Creative’s new centre at Henknowle, which supports young people with learning difficulties and autism.
Trades4Care founder Charlie Wright said the project is a holistic programme which includes at least one work placement on a professional project, plus sessions and workshops on preparing work and personalised coaching.
Students are taught to do everything from preparing quotes to ordering materials and getting on with the physical work.
Mr Wright said: “Trades4Care is very proud of its two full-time apprentices who joined after they had completed one of the project’s entry level programmes.
“They have attended heritage skills courses, first aid and scaffolding training and one of them won an award for the quality of her college work.
“Both are hoping to sit their end point assessment in September next year which would mean they will complete their apprenticeships in two years instead of three – an amazing achievement for both of them.
“They already take responsibility for mentoring participants coming onto the programmes, and are very much part of the Trades4Care team.”
He added: “What all the young adults who have worked with us have achieved in our communities this year is amazing. They have grown in confidence and technical skills while gaining new life skills and helping other organisations that do so much for people in need.”
He thanked the many community groups that worked with them over the past year.
Next year will see the team help out at several other Teesdale venues including the Methodist Church, in Barnard Castle, and Whorlton Village Hall.
Plans for the coming year are to lease a van with a crew-cab which would allow more young people to get involved in the scheme by attending professional projects.
The scheme won support from Teesdale MP Dehenna Davison who visited the crew while at work last year.
She said: “Throughout the turbulence of the pandemic and cost of living crisis, the team at Trades4care have been unfailing in their dedication to the young people they support. Young people come to Trades4Care with potential inside them waiting to be unlocked, and that is what they find – a supportive environment that allows them to do just that.
“To offer that to a single person is a special thing, to offer it to as many as Trades4Care has is nothing short of extraordinary and we are fortunate beyond words to have them working in our community.”
Anybody interested in hiring Trades4Care to deliver work in a care or community venue, sponsor a programme, or help in any other way, can visit www.trades4care.co.uk or call 07905 027074.
