Tutor:  John Swann
Project Worker: Brian Everett
Project Worker: Ashley Wall

This past year has been very busy and changes have been made to various course subject materials. We have introduced intensive first level courses in; Bricklaying, Plastering and Tiling; These activities are usually carried out in our maintenance workshop, although there is plenty of opportunity to do some hands on repairs around the centre. All of the courses here are open to both male and female with evidence showing that both are equally as good.

Another area of training in this department is soft and hard landscaping. Over a period of time the trainees have developed their skills enough to be able to play a large part in completing the recent garden projects around the Centre grounds, thus transforming otherwise forgotten areas into attractive user friendly havens. This is an excellent confidence building strategy because as the trainees go about their daily business, they are reminded of the effort they have put into the designing and creation of these areas for all to enjoy.

As part of their training, the trainees have the opportunity to go out into the community and demonstrate skills in soft and hard landscaping and also general DIY. The object of this is to encourage interaction within the community as a whole, in order to develop a wider education throughout the public sector about people with learning difficulties. This is a chance to show they have skills and something valuable to offer and the trainees gain the advantage of being in an even more realistic work scenario, learning how to pace themselves, meet new challenges and adhere to deadlines. They also get to hear direct positive feedback from someone other than their tutor, which is a great way to build self esteem.

A couple of traditional activities within the department are, making walking sticks and garden trellis. The trellis is of superior quality and allows the trainees to develop their skills in alignment, squaring up and symmetry. They are also required to use cordless drill drivers for assembly work and test their powers of observation whilst painting the finished product. The walking sticks are produced from locally coppiced wood. Whilst making them, the trainees can demonstrate their individual talents and feel for creativeness.

This department tends to tackle various tasks around the Centre, scheduled re-painting of the
farmhouse Centre buildings and recently creating a new training kitchen, which needed skills
of plastering, tiling and painting.

More recently, the department erected a commercial sized polytunnel. This was a challenging task for the team; First of all clearing and levelling the area which was approximately 23 metres by 17 metres, then creating 20 foundation blocks of concrete to secure the huge frame and finally covering the frame with a special polyurethane cover. The trainees rose to the challenge and yet again we have another landmark of the trainees success and development of skills.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank the project workers in my department. Their dedicated hard work with the trainees and also in the numerous projects in and around the Centre has made it possible to achieve excellent results.