Young people power ahead with training

Last modified 24/12/09 at 11:14

Thanks to working closely in partnership with Apollo, Old Ford’s contractor partner, Old Ford has recently opened a second centre for CTI trainees. Having two training centres will enable CTI to double the number of trainees it takes on in 2010 to forty students, providing more secondary school students in Tower Hamlets with training opportunities. The increased space and number of trainees will allow CTI to take on more construction projects to deliver to the community.

The opening of the new training centre in December was a double celebration – to mark the opening of the centre trainees were presented with six new power drills from Youthbuild UK for CTI’s recent award win of £500 for its excellent work helping young people to learn and train in construction. George Chandler, a recent CTI graduate and winner of this year’s Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year award in the 14 – 16 year category, also returned to join in with the celebrations.

Old Ford has brought a disused underground garage area back into use for the new centre, which will be used for teaching plumbing, carpentry and brickwork for trainees on the CTI scheme. The underground car park area is as yet undeveloped except from the CTI workshop, and the first exciting project for the trainees will be to create workshop space for Old Ford’s two social enterprises Furniture on the Street and Growing Concerns.

Mo Ceesay, a CTI trainee graduate who is now a CTI workshop technician, said: “Having two centres is going to be much better. We’ll have more space, which means we can do more projects. It’s also really exciting that we’re going to get more trainees – doing this course was such a great opportunity for me, I’m glad more young people might get the same chance.”

Leon Freestone, the CTI tutor, said: “We’re thrilled about the new centre. Having two centres will mean that we will be able to give twice as many young people training and employment opportunities, and hopefully future young people will benefit as a result. It’s a tough jobs market for young people at the moment, but courses like CTI can hopefully give young people a path into sustainable employment.”

The Construction Training Initiative (CTI) is run by Old Ford Housing Association and is part of a comprehensive training and employment programme of opportunities. The course is open to all Tower Hamlets secondary schools and gives students the opportunity to study vocational training alongside studying academic subjects. Students attend Old Ford’s workshop two days a week for either one or two years to develop skills that may lead to a career in construction. The programme enables young people to gain accredited training and work experience in various aspects of the construction industry including bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry and painting and decorating.

Old Ford has taken a proactive approach in giving CTI trainees a total progressive route into sustained employment with the addition of two elements into the scheme as part of its regeneration of the Parkside Estate. Between year 1 and year 2 Old Ford’s contractors, Apollo and Mears provide a 3-week placement where the trainees work alongside professional tradespeople to gain hands on experience. Both contractors also provide real apprenticeships at the conclusion of the trainees second year.

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Notes to editors

For further information or photography of the event please contact the press office on phone 0845 234 0824 or email pressoffice@circleanglia.org