News > News Archive 2011 > Willmott Dixon teaches young residents DIY skills
Willmott Dixon teaches young residents DIY skills
As part of St Basils ongoing Learning, Skills and Work programme, young residents, across St Basils supported accommodation projects, have been offered training by Willmott Dixon Partnerships to increase their skills and confidence.
St Basils turned to Willmott Dixon to provide 15 young men and women with training in practical DIY skills which will help them in the future.
The training, conducted by Willmott Dixon’s Birmingham North team, is a continuation of support offered by Willmott Dixon across the community. The company first introduced a DIY workshop three months ago and feedback was so positive that other staff were invited to run a similar scheme.
St Basils works with young people across Birmingham and North Worcestershire to help them to find and keep a home, develop their confidence and skills and to prevent homelessness. The workshop complemented this work and taught young people a series of basic home maintenance skills including tiling and plumbing – all of which could be beneficial when they are re-housed.
Shyeene Zaidibere, Willmott Dixon’s customer and community officer on the Birmingham North contract, said, “We continually seek to work with communities to help leave a lasting legacy and hope by running this event we can offer advice and help to those seeking to further their skills.
“The work at St Basils is vital in helping young people gain access to a home and future work opportunities across the Birmingham area. Feedback from those taking part suggests that the workshop was an important step in learning how to run a home – something they are looking forward to doing in the near future.”
One young woman to have benefited from Willmott Dixon’s expertise said: “The workshop has been very useful and I have picked up resourceful tips that will benefit me throughout my life.”
Pauline Chatt, Willmott Dixon’s general manager on the Birmingham North contract, added, “Everyone showed such enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Events such as this are vitally important in giving young people across Birmingham the confidence and support to a brighter future.”
With over 158 years of experience, the company provides services within the built environment to Government, registered social landlords, local authorities and private sector clients throughout the UK and currently has five year contracts with Birmingham City Council covering areas in both the north and south of the city.
