Construction Youth Trust Charity Project UK 2021
During the Summer break of 2021, Elliott Group were delighted to manage and deliver the Community Park Pond Deck Project in Swanscombe, Kent, with The Construction Youth Trust, in order to develop the skills of young offenders who were keen to improve their employability.
The Swanscombe Heritage Park is a 3.9 hectares geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It contains two Geological Conservation Review sites and a National Nature Reserve and provides much-needed outdoor public space and green areas to the local community. Swanscombe Council was in great need of a safe and suitable decking area to surround a newly constructed public pond, situated within a shaded woodland area of the park. Due to the lack of direct sunlight and also the damp nature of the corner, the decking material would need to be made of a recycled composite non-slip decking material, in order to maintain long-term stability, and reduce rotting that would occur in timber boards.
Lacking in funding for the work, Elliott Group volunteered to deliver the project for the Council for free, as part of their ongoing commitment to add value and improvement to the communities within which they work.
The project also involved the local Youth Offending Team, who had a small group of young offenders (aged 17 years old) showing keen interest in a career within the construction industry. These young people were given the opportunity to complete the project works, under the guidance and supervision of the skilled Elliott tradespeople, who could mentor them through the process and equip them with valuable skills.
In return for completing the works, the boys were provided with fully funded CSCS and Health & Safety Level 1 training, in order to give them access to construction employment opportunities after the project.
Elliott Group were extremely proud to have enabled this project to go ahead, for the benefit of the trainees, as well as the local community who now gain the use of a safe new viewing deck at the park pond.
For more information on the Trust, please click here