Ely residents celebrate completion of construction course

Out-of-work residents in Ely improved their employability skills thanks to a special training course from Sanctuary Housing and Groundwork Cambridge & Peterborough.

A free landscaping, construction and horticulture course has been successfully completed by nine local residents looking to take a step onto the career ladder.

Funded by Sanctuary and led by Groundwork, the five-week programme culminated in a celebratory event at Sanctuary’s Fairfax Court retirement living scheme attended by the mayor of Ely, Councillor Lis Every and Travis Perkins who supported the project and event.

The mayor was joined by those who have completed the course, residents of the scheme and members of the East Cambridgeshire Committee, a committee which monitors the provision of landlord services for Sanctuary Housing residents in East Cambridgeshire.

Aged 18 to 65, participants on the course were able to learn practical skills by laying a path, installing benches and building raised flower beds at Fairfax Court, with all materials kindly donated by Travis Perkins.

Following the completion of the course, attendees will now have the opportunity to obtain the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, essential in the construction industry.

A mock exam for obtaining the card, as well as mock job interviews from Travis Perkins, marked the completion of the students’ term and the beginning of the celebrations.

Councillor Every said: “It was a real privilege to meet all the partners in this project and to witness the benefits that everyone has gained through being involved.

“Hopefully we will be able to learn in a few months’ time that the participants have gone onto further training or work. They certainly deserve to have this opportunity as they would be a credit to any employer.’

Sanctuary Housing’s head of neighbourhood partnership’s, Graham Nolan, said: “This course has provided nine unemployed individuals, seven of whom are Sanctuary residents, with the skills, training and confidence to take the next steps in their career choices.

“We are proud to be supporting a project like this, and I hope the students will be able to access further training opportunities, and sustain employment from this experience.”

Gerard Hughes, from Groundwork, said: “This has been a great project, the volunteers have transformed a bare patch of land into a useable and attractive space whilst developing their skills.

“It’s been great to see the participants and residents forming relationships throughout the project. Fingers crossed all the participants are now able to progress on to further training or employment. It has been great to work alongside Sanctuary Housing and Travis Perkins to deliver such a positive and effective project.”

All participants will now receive support in searching and applying for jobs.

This project was funded by DWP Flexible Support Fund and by Sanctuary Group’s Community Investment Fund supporting projects which benefit Sanctuary residents and their communities.