Building hope for the future

Young people from Dorset and Somerset have completed a two-week training course with The Prince’s Trust at the Dorset Centre for Rural Skills.  ‘Get Into Sustainable Building’ included training in straw bale building, lime rendering and plastering, basic carpentry and employability skills.  The youngsters also studied health and safety and gained a CSCS card which is now required to work on many building sites. 

Rob Buckley from DCRS said: “This has been a great opportunity to educate the builders of the future and promote environmental sound careers for local people”.

The Prince’s Trust and Dorset Centre for Rural Skills teamed up to offer local young people an opportunity to gain skills and experience to improve their chances of finding employment in the construction industry.   The young people aged between 16 and 25 are all currently unemployed.   The Trust is currently finding work experience opportunities for the youngsters and will continue to support them for up to six months following their training. 

Alan Torrance, 21, from Gillingham completed the course last summer and is now working full-time as a carpenter. He said: “I was unemployed for a year before coming to the Trust. I had been trying to get work in the building industry but nothing was happening, I wasn’t getting anything.

“I found the course really useful and motivating. I learned loads of new stuff and enjoyed working as a team. I went straight into work experience after the course and after that was finished, they offered me a full time job. All in all, it was a great experience.”

Any local businesses willing to offer a two-week work experience placement should contact Liz Robertson at The Prince’s Trust on 01752 831555 or 07808 717469 or email elizabeth.robertson@princes-trust.org.uk.