St David’s Carpentry Training Centre To Re-open
[Updated] Woodworks Carpentry Training Centre, located in Southside, St. David’s, will reopen in April with a full offering of classes for student carpenters and woodworking hobbyists.
The workshop, run by master carpenters Alma Hunt and Quinton Burrows, was previously open for five years, offering training to students referred to them by various government departments, including Child and Family Services and Probation Services, and they taught Community Education classes.
The centre was on the verge of being closed though, after struggling financially and strategically, and has been closed for the last 8 months. But thanks to support from various groups, including the Department of Workforce Development, BLDC, and private donors, they have developed a new approach.
Mr. Hunt explained, “We want to train Bermuda’s next generation of carpenters. Bermuda had an incredible woodworking history – from boat building to our unique Bermuda roofs – but the trade has been slowly dying. Woodworks was set up as a training centre, and with the recent support we’ve received, I feel optimistic that we will be able to move forward and do our part to help rebuild the trade.”
Mr. Hunt and Mr Burrows with middle school students in 2013
Woodworks is introducing two main programmes. For students interested in a career in carpentry, the City and Guilds Carpentry Certification and Entrepreneurship Class will run 3 days/week for 2 years.
Students will earn a Level 2 certification and will also be coached in entrepreneurship, via a partnership with local charity Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative. Each student will produce and market a woodworking product.
Mr. Hunt continued, “A lot of times students drop out of school because they need to work, so we wanted to show them how they can turn their learning into income and will help them to sell their products.”
The school will use mainly reclaimed wood from old pallets, discarded wooden furniture and off-cuts of lumber as a way to both reduce their supply expenses and environmental footprint.
Woodworks will also offer a series of 1 and 2-day classes to teach basic woodworking and will also provide access to the facility for woodworking hobbyists and working carpenters.
“We’ll be teaching folks how to use the machinery safely, and helping them to create products they can use, like cutting boards and picture frames. Also, many people have basic woodworking skills but don’t have access to equipment like ours, so we’ll be offering weekly ‘Open Shop’ and facility membership.”
All of the offerings have fees attached to ensure that the facility can stay open, but they are hoping that for the City and Guilds certification, they’ll be able to offer some scholarships to ensure no interested student is turned away.
In the future, Mr. Hunt hopes to partner with the Ministry of Education, to provide teacher training in woodworking to Design and Technology teachers, as well as offer short-term courses for tradespersons already working in the field.
Mr. Hunt said, “The carpentry trade has been very good to Quinton and I. We both ran successful businesses for decades, and always wanted to ensure we passed the trade on.
“With the current economic climate, the country needs to be focused on providing training that will create jobs and build sustainability. Woodworks is taking this on for the carpentry field. That’s our part… we’re proud to do our part.”
Update 5.14pm: A spokesperson added, “The City and Guilds Certification will be geared towards students aged 18-35 and those interested should contact Woodworks and attend an information session at The Department of Workforce Development on Thursday, April 3 from 9.30 – 10.30am.
“An Intro to Carpentry and Workshop Safety class will be held on Saturday, April 5, from 1-4pm. This intro class is required for anyone seeking to access the 1 and 2-day courses and the facility. Students will get hands-on instruction in how to use the machinery safely and the cost is $65.
“For a full calendar of events and to register for any of the classes, contact woodworksbda@gmail.com or call The Collaborative management firm at 705.1838.”
Excellent!! We need more of this type of program for our young people.
Is there a contact number, email or address available?
Thanks for the update…
Excellent – notwithstanding the importance of having skilled woodworkers for our workforce, but the benefit of giving people an opportunity of developing a hobby working with their hands is very important and something our society needs today – much of peoples leisure-time is tied up in gaming, apps and media that we are losing touch with the basic human skills of engaging in creative outlets.
THIS IS AWESOME!!!
I am sure they will have some info soon or Bernews may be able to obtain the info and post it for you.
I bet this was never funded by the defunct plp.
It’s a good idea. The ubp let the Bda. Tech. close which was a shame.
I heard this was funded by Ewarts plp (too much so) with a grant and
rent free premises.
Still a good idea.
Politics has been a stick in the wheels of progress for far too long. I believe this to be a great idea irregardless of whose idea it had initially been. I further believe it can also be a helping hand up for inmates at the Senior Training School and Pender Hill Prison Farm
That is wonderful, I have been a carpenter for over 30 years and it has always been my regret that I could not pass my skills on to a younger generation. It just seems that they are not interested in learning this type of work.
I am glad you have you have that opportunity.
This has the potential to be truly transformative. So happy to hear it’s up and running – let’s support it and kudoes to whomever got them more funding so they could continue! This will pay dividends!
Who cares who funds it OBA, PLP, UBP whatever! This should be natural for any government 2 do! Teaching a man a trade is a great tool to succeed in life.
mr burrows amazin mate
hands on thxs very much for this = )
While this is a worthwhile cause, why is government money (workforce development) being spent on this non government program when students can attend the Bermuda college. I thought we were using our government money more wisely.
Excellent!!!
I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Hunt for many years in the Carpentry and home maintenance field. The knowledge imparted on me is invaluable and has served me well. Much success with the program.
R.Augustus