A social enterprise scheme to provide affordable, sustainable property development and maintenance for public and private home owners, whilst encompassing work placements for young people aged 16 – 24 who have been not in education, employment, or training, has been launched in Swindon
The scheme has been created by Chris Dodd of La Maison, a not for profit enterprise. The programme will provide a hands-on practical learning environment, led by experienced and well-qualified supervisors for young people to regain their confidence in learning and develop skills to enable them to re-engage with education or enhance their opportunities to enter into employment.
Mr Dodd's background in education provides him with a unique approach to new learning and in tackling the problems that disengage young people within the community. These young people are to be referred to La Maison directly by the Job Centre Plus office in Swindon.
The social enterprise will also be actively looking to work with organisations that need to ensure cost-effective and quality maintenance work within tight budgets such as charities, nfps, support groups and community-based organisations.
Companies in need of property and maintenance services are being urged to engage with this social enterprise.
Each six month programme is broken down into the following structure:
• Four days per week working (supervised) on site at property development projects in both the public and private sectors
• One day per week of study towards completion of the CSCS qualification and development of employability skills
• First Aid training
• Registration with a recruitment agency
• Awards Ceremony for all finishers.
• All those who undertake the programme receive a weekly training bursary.
During their training with La Maison the candidates will each receive a weekly one-on-one tutorial to review progress and set targets for future development.
This target setting will include preparing for future employment or training, and focus on completion of employment applications and preparation for interview. In addition to this, all of the young people will keep a portfolio of their work-based experience that they can use as a reference point for applications to future employment or training.
For more information contact chris@la-maison.org.uk
