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Work with Organisations

Work with Housing Associations

Added: 3 December 2007. Last updated: 6 December 2007.

DIY for Women

The DIY for Women Programme aims to provide women with the skills and the confidence to consider a career in the construction industry but also to learn skills to help them in their homes and also to reengage with education and training. This programme is an in depth taster taught in a women only environment by tradeswomen.

The positive learning experiences of the women, access to tradeswomen as role models and continued outreach support and information delivered throughout the course duration will provide an access point for beneficiaries to develop onto a progression route into construction training and employment.

There is a lack of good quality and extensive access courses available in the capital to give women the opportunity to try out a construction trade and women are less likely to have had informal learning experiences in their families. As a result many women would not feel confident to sign up to a year long course or even consider construction as a potential career option (Free to Choose EOC report 2005). This project tackles this directly by offering not only a taster but also support to enter the industry or other training provision. Learning a non-traditional skill is very empowering and supports women in building confidence and opening up many new perspectives and opportunities.

The sessions will also be taught in a housing association property which will remove some of the barriers experienced by women as they will not initially have to come into the male dominated college environment but will be able to be introduced to this environment as the course progressed.

The course is not accredited but womencan be supported to achieve a CSCS card as part of their progression onto further training and employment.

The course covers painting and decorating, electrics, plumbing and carpetntry as well as support and guidance about carrers and training opportunites.

All teaching will be delivered on a small ration of around one tutor to 7 participants. The tutors will all be women and the majority will be tradeswomen. This will enable them to act as role models to the women on the courses, showing that it is possible to be a woman and a construction worker

If you are interested in commissioning WAMT to train your tenants please email director@wamt.org