Skillway
For over 25 years Skillway has offered teenagers a uniquely individual practical day in our workshops each week, encouraging and mentoring them to engage and participate in crafts and trade skills training. Well over 1,000 young people have experienced Skillway since its creation, driven by a recognition of a group of youngsters who were not thriving at school or in the local community. They come from a broad cross-section of teenagers from local state schools, special education schools and home educated individuals. What they all have in common is that they have found learning at school difficult, either academically or socially, often both. Skillway offers small working groups of up to six, supported by a minimum of 2 tutors, at least one of whom is an experienced skilled tradesman. They enjoy learning at their own pace; something they feel is relevant and attainable. They leave Skillway feeling more confident about themselves and their future employment prospects.
The GHF have supported the training of over 30 teenagers struggling in mainstream schools.
Learning Skills
We are delighted and truly grateful that the Geoff Herrington Foundation supported Skillway students.
In 2016, a local resident recommended that Skillway approach the newly formed Geoff Herrington Foundation as their objectives appeared to closely match with Skillway’s principles, and so it proved to be.
In 9 years of support, the GHF has donated over £81,000 to Skillway enabling 36 individual students to learn a range of manual skills relevant to construction or motor/mechanics trades and, most importantly, to develop their own potential, ability, employment opportunities, and maturity to become responsible individuals in the local community. The students may never realise how fortunate they were to be sponsored by GHF, but Skillway humbly and sincerely acknowledges that the support of GHF has been a major, positive influence in their teenage lives.
Extract from a report to GHF, March 2022
“X” has had a very positive term, working on his DVD cabinet in Carpentry, which includes hand cutting ‘blind dovetails’ joints into the drawer, and he continues to want the best outcome he can get, achieved with a smile and working collaboratively with the tutors to increase his experience and skill.
He recently had an interview at Brooklands College for a place on their carpentry course. He took his portfolio of Skillway certificates which had enough impact for them to offer him a place on a level 2 course at the College.
In metalwork “X” has been diligently working on a welding sculpture project, gaining confidence and inspiration from his success.
It is clear that the skills training provided by Skillway is continuing to make a major difference to the lives and future prospects of the young people who are supported.
Received January 2023 from a sponsor.
For more information about the work of Skillway