Trades4care’s hugely successful 2023 concluded with another major project at St Helens at the Parish Centre.
The community interest company for young people looking to enter the decorating trade has transformed the main hall and the community room.
Supporting Charlie and Cameron on the project were Michael Ramage and Matthieu Connelly.
After his first experience of working as part of the Trades4care team, Michael said: “If anyone wants to help out in their community and gain some new skills and confidence, I would thoroughly recommend contacting Trades4care.
“The team are very friendly and make you feel very comfortable.
“I’ve made new friends and learned new skills. They made me feel so welcome and I can’t wait to help on another project.”
Matthieu has now been involved on a few projects as part of a work placement through access to work.
Charlie Wright, founder and director of Trades4care said: “The young team have again delivered a great job in the community.
“Both Michael and Matthieu worked really well as part of the team and Cameron continues to grow in her new role as assistant lead.
“Like many of our projects, this is another centre that is the hub of the community with so many organisations using it to support both children and adults in St Helens.
“We have again used fully recycled materials on the project, which is great for the environment.
“We did one more project before the end of the year in Cockfield where we helped a young man get his home ship shape for Christmas.
“We’ve had a great year and our local youngsters have done some amazing work in our communities. We also piloted our first community learning week which was a great success.
“Everyone at Trades4care would just like to thank everyone for their support this year.”
Pat from the Parish Centre said: “Very many thanks to Trades4care for the great job they have done at the St Helens Parish Centre.
They are a lovely team who have worked well and completed a professional job.
“The team are friendly and courteous, as well as being conscientious and extremely tidy and clean workers.
“We hope to be using Trades4care again in the future”.
Trades4Care was founded in 2019 with the aim of supporting local young people to consider a career in trades whilst bringing them into closer contact with their own communities and getting them involved in projects that improve life for the more vulnerable people in society.
In 2023 their young people have worked on more than 30 projects, from decorating a room for an older person following a stroke, to large community venues like St Helens Parish Centre.
Around 30 young people aged between 14 and 30 have been part of our team. Some only once or twice, but most for multiple projects.
Each young person they work with has their own particular needs, but all of them benefit from having an extended ‘family’ of people interested in helping them reach their potential.
“The more we build relationships with other organisations and the people who work in them,” said Charlie, “the better we will be able to make our own contribution to support the young people we want to see succeed in life.
Our focus is on trades, but also on creating warmth, trust and the practical skills to meet new ambition and aspiration.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
