Trainees in Handcrafted workshop

Training

For many of the people we work with, mainstream education has failed them and cemented the disadvantage they face.

Consequently, we offer a range of accredited and non-accredited training courses from entry level to level 2, aimed at developing the knowledge, skills and behaviors required to combat the barriers that face those without a traditional education.

Through each hub, our trainees benefit from developing their skills within our well-equipped carpentry workshops, training kitchens, working cafes, outdoor spaces, and training rooms. Through use of these facilities, our qualified training team strives to develop the confidence, resilience, employability and independent living skills of all trainees at Handcrafted.

Handcrafted trainee sawing a piece of wood in the workshop

We currently provide training opportunities in the following skill areas:

  • Carpentry, Joinery and Woodwork
  • Essential ICT skills
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Barista and Customer Service
  • Cooking, Catering and Hospitality
  • Employability skills
  • Creative Crafts
  • Hidden Maths and English

We prioritise holding all of our training and education within positive and welcoming community environments that adopt trauma informed approaches to meet the needs of vulnerable and hard to reach members of the community. Through doing this, we empower people to complete practical projects that serve as a reminder of their creativity, capability and potential, emboldening them to turn their own lives around.

Image depicting someone helping another person up a mountain

Testimonials

Changing Lives have been working in partnership with Handcrafted for some time, and have seen the improvements that they have made to the service since they first began. We see Handcrafted as a valuable partner, providing effective support to our residents, most of whom are socially excluded and have been given up on by other services.

Handcrafted provides a safe environment for residents, so that they can explore new skills, gain confidence and improve self-esteem. This has been demonstrated on a number of occasions, when residents have been given the support specific to their needs, staff have shown patience and understanding in dealing with individuals who can be very challenging.

We work very closely with Handcrafted and have formed a unique working partnership together, we have seen a massive difference in the confidence that our residents have when they have engaged in this service, and that is due to the staff at Handcrafted going the extra mile, to make a difference to our residents, showing empathy and understanding and without judgement.

Long may this continue…

Margaret M, Service Lead, Changing Lives