Construction Youth Trust congratulates ten successful students!

Ten students graduate from the Trust’s three week Budding Builders programme with Level 1 qualifications in Health and Safety.

 

The London team congratulates the latest cohort of students who completed the three week Budding Builders programme based at the Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre in Camden. Out of twelve starters, ten gained their OCN Level 1 qualification in Health and Safety with five also gaining the five year CSCS Labourer’s Card. With this card it will be possible for them to access entry-level positions in the construction industry and be able to pursue successful careers within the industry. The course was delivered in partnership with the John Lyon’s charity and the students came from the borough of Camden and the neighbouring boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.

 

The group, led by experienced carpenter and Training & Curriculum Manager Wendy Heller worked to create two benches to be donated to a local park in Camden. Participants learned basic skills in carpentry, initially working on their own individual four joint frame before working in teams to create two wonderful benches. The group also worked well in the classroom throughout their qualification and all went above and beyond in their revision while preparing for their CSCS test. Due to their hard work and dedication half of the students who completed the course achieved the CSCS labourer’s card and all the students can look forward to a bright futures within the industry. 

This particular course could not have come at a better time for the students as there is an exciting summer ahead for Construction Youth Trust. In partnership with Willmott Dixon and their Changing Lives programme Construction Youth Trust’s training centre in Bermondsey will be refurbished providing a new and improved environment for future courses. As part of the programme six students from this particular course in Camden were selected to take part in this project in order to help them gain key qualifications and valuable work experience. Each of the selected students had to undergo an interview in order to be selected for the project and each of the students impressed the Willmott Dixon’s staff with their hard work and willingness to learn. We wish them the best of luck on the project!

The Challenge:

Young people often lack the confidence, skills and qualifications to access employment in the construction industry.

Construction Youth Trust aims to help young people to access employment opportunities in the built environment. Young people who struggle academically can find it difficult to make the transition between education and employment. The young people targeted by the Trust often have turbulent lives; they may be care leavers, ex-offenders or long-term NEET (not in education, employment or training). Long-term unemployment can have a devastating effect on young people’s mental health, decreasing confidence and self-esteem. Negative self-perception can prevent young people from accessing training and employment opportunities and lead them into a spiral of long-term unemployment, lacking the both the qualifications and the experience to attain work.

The Response:

Construction Youth Trust aims to break this cycle by offering practical construction training and accredited, industry-led qualifications. With the Level 1 Health and Safety qualification delivered on our three and four week programmes, course completers are able to attain a five year CSCS Labourer’s  card which will allow them to work on sites. However, we recognise that the gap between our course and the working world can be quite vast, and we therefore offer wraparound employability training during courses, as well as long term monitoring and support following their completion.

Following the course students are supported into employment or further training. With our in-house work placement programme, Routes into Construction, students are offered the chance to complete a two-week, on- site work placement, covering three separate trades.  Our aim is to break the cycle of unemployment by offering demand-led skills, training and work experience which will give young people a real start in the construction industry.

The Results:

Ten young people completed a three week course in practical construction multi-skills, learning new skills and boosting their confidence. They all achieved the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment qualification and so far five have passed their CSCS tests. Six will start a work placements with Willmott Dixon in Bermondsey.

“Another successful Budding Builders course delivered by our London Team. I was delighted to hear about the excellent outcomes achieved by our young people including passing their construction related courses, progressing into high quality work placements and also continuing their further education in their chosen trades. Our ambition is that all participants will end up in sustainable employment in their chosen construction.” – Vic Grimes, Operations Director at Construction Youth Trust

“I am very happy about it, also I got to know people that I would never meet before. I really learned a lot on this course. I made new friends and got to know how to work with a group, also the respect from staff and tutors. So far I think everything is good at CYT and I am sure that whoever wants to be on CYT he will be happy about it.” – Course completer

Construction Youth Trust is running the Construction Skills course on a regular basis and welcomes young people from all London boroughs who are currently looking to gain a CSCS card, and find employment or training.

Contact the London team:
T: 0207 467 954
E: london@constructionyouth.org.uk

Or check out what courses we have running here.