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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

I have referred a number of offenders to Handcrafted.  The offenders can attend the project several times per week if they wish to, if not daily. This means that they have some where to go and something constructive to do with their time. They can learn new skills or continue to develop skills they already have. They are given the opportunity to try projects they would probably never have considered themselves able to do.

They all take great pride in the items they produce and some have expressed interest in forming their own small businesses on the back of the skills they have learned.

Most of my offenders have then begun to work on their own projects outside of Handcrafted, for example, one produced a bench for a new nature reserve. The offender stated that he feels he has left a legacy for other people to benefit from. Again, this gives them something constructive to do with their time, gives them a sense of pride and self worth. All of this is extremely positive for the offender and helps to deter from further offending.

Lesley G, Durham Constabulary