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Charity hut transformation boosts teens' skills

Louise FewsterYorkshire
News imageLouise Fewster/BBC Picture shows two males sawing a piece of light brown timber. Man on the right who has a grey beard is wearing dark trousers, green jumper with a high vis jacket over the jumper and wearing a blue cap is leaning over the wood with his left hand on the timber. The male student is on the right, bent over with a saw in his right hand and is sawing the timber with his left hand and left knee on the wood holding in place. Louise Fewster/BBC
Students at Scarborough TEC have refurbished a shed at the Rainbow Centre as part of the project

Students at a further education college in Scarborough have developed their skills by helping to transform a building at a charity in the seaside town.

The group of 16-18-year-olds from Scarborough TEC took part in a volunteering project to refurbish a former food storage shed at the Rainbow Centre, which provides support to vulnerable and homeless people.

The work was led by Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), which gives young people the chance to fix and rebuild community-owned spaces while gaining construction experience.

Student Zack, 16, said through the project he had learned carpentry and decorating skills and "wanted to give something back to the community".

Over the course of the two-week project, the students helped transform the hut at the Rainbow Centre into a space for confidential conversations.

The centre offers food, practical support, advice and a safe place for people to access a range of services.

News imageLouise Fewster/BBC Headshot of a teenage boy with brown curly hair tied back into a pony tail wearing an orange high-vis jacket over a dark blue top, smiling. He is in front of a timber building with the door open and on the door is Health and Safety instructions. In the background is a treeLouise Fewster/BBC
Zack has developed skills in painting and decorating while volunteering as part of the VIY scheme

Zack, who has previously volunteered on another VIY project in the area, said he "loved" being part of it as it gave him hands-on DIY experience which he said had become very useful.

"I have got used to painting and just making things in the yard, and I have sold some stuff and made a bit of money," he said.

Zack said he was now looking at doing an apprenticeship in the construction industry when he left the college.

Mia Kelly, 20, explained she had been out of work for two years when she got involved with VIY, working on a project to develop painting and decorating skills.

After going on its Trailblazer scheme, which helps young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), she now works for them full-time.

She said a lack of experience could be a big barrier for young people.

"I did not have experience at all. I had a few jobs but they weren't what I was looking for," she said.

"And then it's finding that job when there is nothing and you don't know where to look."

News imageLouise Fewster/BBC A headshot of a woman with long brown hair and wearing glasses and a blue jumper is in the middle of the image stood in front of a brick wall which has a fence on top of it. There is a tree branch with green leaves on it just above the woman's right shoulder.Louise Fewster/BBC
Mia Kelly says she developed new skills thanks to working with Volunteer It Yourself

According to VIY, the project, which is funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, showed how investment in community buildings could go hand in hand with developing young people's skills.

Matt Mellor, VIY's programme director for the North, said young people wanting to learn skills, earn some money and contribute to society was "absolutely fantastic".

"I hate the stigma of a young person not in education and training. Not everyone fits into that box in education," he said.

"We try and offer a different platform that helps the young people learn those valuable skills."

James Howard, from the Rainbow Centre, said the refurbished shed would give some "much needed private space for our clients" and allow them to work with external agencies.

The charity is expected to officially unveil the newly transformed hub later this month.

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