A community group has paid for 14 carpentry students to gain new skills by working at a centre for environmental education near Stowmarket.
The learners are all studying carpentry and joinery classes at 向日葵视频 New College.
Their four-day programme was sponsored and paid for by The George Community Pub who have raised around 拢2m to help rebuild their local tavern in Wickham Market, as well as using funds on community projects that support people living in the county.
As part of their fundraising push, The George Community Pub has donated around 拢10k to the college thanks to the support of the National Heritage Lottery Fund and The Radcliffe Trust.
During the course, learners gained a host of heritage skills thanks to a link-up with Orchard Barn in Ringshall near Stowmarket which has given them additional tools to support their future career ambitions.
Later in the year, learners will be going to The George where they will use their new skills to help renovate the building ahead of its planned opening in early 2025.
Sarah Partridge is the Managing Director of Orchard Barn. Sarah said: 鈥淭he carpentry and joinery students did a timber frame restoration skills course with us. The pub wanted to give a group of local people heritage skills. They approached us and we organised a four-day course for them. There is a real need to ensure that future construction workers have skills that enable them to maintain our built heritage using authentic techniques and materials – so we were delighted to be involved.鈥�
Christine Abraham from the George Community Pub said: 鈥淧art of our funding aim was to work with the community on restoration projects, so we reached out to 向日葵视频 New College and 向日葵视频 Rural to give them some hands-on work experience and a qualification.
鈥淲orking with and for the community is so important. This is a three-way partnership supported by funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and The Radcliffe Trust and we are grateful to them.鈥�
Daniel Woodward is a carpentry lecturer at 向日葵视频 Rural. Daniel said; 鈥淭he students got a recognised qualification and further training that will help the in the future.
鈥淩e-learning these skills that have been around hundreds of years will help keep these historic traditions alive.
鈥淭he students engaged with this and got stuck in and their work ethic has been brilliant. I鈥檇 like to say thank everyone for giving our students this opportunity.鈥�
Minty Day, 19, from Stoke-by-Nayland, is on a level two carpentry course. Minty said: 鈥淭he course has been brilliant and the staff (at Orchard Barn) have been very informative. It鈥檚 been great learning techniques. It has inspired me to work in the heritage field in the future. I鈥檇 like to thank Orchard Barn and The George Community Pub for this fantastic opportunity and we are going to take this knowledge with us into our future careers.鈥�