Award winning free DIY training offered to Salford women to improve their skills

A week of free DIY and home maintenance training was offered for women who wished to learn basic DIY and maintenance skills. 

A group of women at City Skills, of Salford City College Group participated, following the success of last year’s training with The Guinness Partnership.

The partnership is one of England’s largest housing associations and offered twelve residents award-winning training.

Whether it was either out of work or on a low income, they wished to learn basic DIY and maintenance skills, such as joinery, tiling, and plumbing.

The free DIY training was building on Guinness’s existing partnership with City Skills and previously has donated the training space as part of their social value work.

Hosted between the 23 and 27 June, participants also received mentoring and support and guidance to help them get into work, and the chance to gain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).

Pam, a Guinness resident who participated in the programme said: “I registered for the programme to learn some basic DIY skills for around the home, and I learnt so much more than just that.

“I learnt there’s so many different job types within the construction industry and so many growing opportunities, especially for women, which has made me consider taking my career in a completely different direction in the future.”

Pam continued: “And the course itself has given me the confidence to tackle projects in my own home.

“The team were all brilliant especially Gary, I didn’t once feel like there was any question I couldn’t ask, and his delivery of the practical skills made it very easy to understand. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this course!”

Edd Draper, Training Manager at The Guinness Partnership said: “We are thrilled to be delivering our award-winning programme in Salford supporting local residents to gain new practical skills, build confidence and develop new friendships as part of our DIY skills programme.

“This is the third time we have delivered this training course in Salford, and we are grateful of all the support from our fantastic partners, who have helped make this another success.”

And being delivered by Guinness the training was delivered by Frameworks Social Enterprise CIC and supported by partner organisations, these included Salix Homes, Edmundson Electrical, Jewson Partnership Solutions, Build Salford, Smart Works Greater Manchester, Triton Showers, Terrix and HiSpec.

All partners were involved in coordinating and planning the programme, helping fund the course and providing guest speakers.

The programme was also able to celebrate the course members, with all the receiving a free toolbox and a power tool – an amazing end-of-course gift, which was funded by all partners and donated by Jewson Partnership Solutions, Hispec and Makita.