Projects
North East Training the Trainers 2008
Funding for the Training the Trainers programme was secured from the Learning and Skills Council and the course was offered to all 23 colleges in the North East, to their trainers/assessors of NVQ 3 in Carpentry & Joinery, Masonry – Brick, Plastering and Painting and Decorating. 22 regional college lecturers attended the programme.
After spending week one at West Dean and the Weald and Downland Museum near Chichester, week two in practical workshop situations and week three undertaking further practical and philosophical lectures on the conservation of historic buildings, all were ready to undertake the final exam. We are pleased to announce that all 22 lecturers passed their exam. A Training the Trainers group has since been set up and will meet quarterly.
North East HSI Events Programme
A very successful programme of events ran up to November 2008, offering a selection of taster courses in skills such as blacksmithing, dry stone walling and pointing with lime, and talks on heritage skills and issues. All courses are IHBC-recognised for CPD requirements.
More information is available from the North of England Civic Trust website
North East Heritage Skills Fair 2008
With over 70 demonstrators and exhibitors, 15 school groups and around 4,000 visitors, the 2008 North East Heritage Skills Fair, which took place at the National Trust’s Gibside Estate on 11th, 12th and 13th July, was a huge success.
Fortunately the rain and the mud didn’t dampen the spirits of visitors, and people of all ages could be seen trying their hand at a wide range of traditional crafts. Whether blacksmithing, stone cutting or proggy mat making, visitors rolled up their sleeves and gave heritage skills a go.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part – demonstrators and exhibitors, National Trust and NECT staff, John Grundy (who opened the event) and all of those who came along to support us. It was a very special event, and judging by the feedback many people can’t wait for us to do it again!
http://www.nect.org.uk/index.php?page=heritage-skills-fair
Heritage Wonder Champions
A regional competition, begun in October 2007, challenged schools to put forward a team to research, consult and find a new use for a pre-1919 historic building of their choice, making the best use of its existing features. This involved the pupils setting up their own company and carrying out public consultation on ideas for conversion and re-use of the building. The intention was to produce a ‘Heritage Wonder’ for the future. The winner, High Tunstall College of Science in Hartlepool, was announced at the Heritage Skills Fair at Gibside. Their scheme was for the disused Tunstall Court, the listed mansion of Hartlepool industrialist Sir William Grey.
Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme
The Heritage Skills Coordinator is working in partnership with the manager of the Bursary Scheme to ensure that the North East utilises this opportunity to increase the provision of traditional building skills across areas of need.
One bursary placement was filled in July 2007, when Ian McMaster joined North Shields contractor Historic Property Restoration Ltd as a stonemason for one year and a second placement was filled in September 2007, when Lee Knibbs joined Adrian Wood Artist Blacksmiths in Stockton for six months.
