A NEW handyman scheme is being launched this summer to help older people or those with disabilities tackle small DIY projects in their homes.
Organised by the Trades4Care project, which sees college students get hands-on experience alongside qualified professionals while giving community venues and care homes a makeover, the scheme will come into operation this summer.
Trades4Care director Charlie Wright announced the handyman scheme during a meeting county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson while overseeing work at Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service’s (Utass) offices in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
The project will be fronted by former East Durham College tutor Keith Doughty, who will use the opportunity to share his skills with college students.
Mr Wright said: “Keith will come out on a part time basis and do a little handyman service in the community. It could be for a care community, education building or somebody who is living at home who can’t carry out maintenance anymore because of old age or disability. A young person will shadow Keith everywhere he goes, so they will feed off him and learn off him.”
He added that Mr Doughty had helped out during recent work at Butterwick Hospice where young people had completely refitted the charity’s kitchen.
The work carried out at Utass forms part of a Teesdale Action Partnership project whereby 12 venues in the dale are undergoing a makeover while offering work experience for young people. Brennan Rose-Murgey, 16, and John George Proudfoot, 17, joined the project for the first time at Utass.
Both are completing their level one at Bishop Auckland College and sacrificed their half-term break to gain experience working alongside Mr Wright and newly qualified decorator Cameron Southworth.
John George said: “It has been fun – I’m just taking what I have learned in college and using it here.”
The work included painting various offices and toilets as well as an open space.
Some intricate work was needed to paint over murals made by former youth group members while carefully retaining an image of High Force.
Mr Wright said: “The big bit was getting rid of the murals, because there were big paintings around and the kids said they were old and wanted to change it. The young people who created it have been long gone and it gives the new kids a chance to put something new on. But they all like the waterfall, so Cameron has painted around the waterfall.”
The county councillors, whose neighbourhood budgets helped sponsor the makeover, were impressed with the quality of the students’ work.
Cllr Bell said: “You don’t realise how tired something is until you do it. The obvious thing is you can see the difference and that is the great thing about a job like that.
“You can step back at the end of the day and see what you have done, whereas with a lot of jobs in life you can’t see that. You walk away and think, ‘wow, I’ve done that’.”
Other venues in Teesdale that are still to get a makeover include Cotherstone Village Hall, Romaldkirk Reading Rooms, railings and other outdoor sprucing up at Barningham Village Hall, YMCA at Cockfield, and Bowes and Gilmonby Village Hall.
