Youth Training Provision  

The Pembroke Local Repair and Maintenance scheme and the associated accredited training programme for adults, was hailed as a great success. This recognition led to the programme being further developed for delivery with school pupils.

PEMB had been offering work experience placement and volunteering opportunities for young people for some time and this experience combined with some members of staff experience of poverty and disadvantage, meant PEMB were in a unique position to support young people who were outside of the mainstream education system. 

In 2009, a timber ‘classroom’ was built on the Pembroke Street estate to host this activity.  It meant that small groups of 6 – 8 students could be hosted on the estate.  With funding from the National Lottery Awards for All programme and the Tudor Trust, learning materials were developed and tools and resources purchased. 

Several school and alternative education providers signed up to the programme, including Mount Tamar School, Brook Green Centre for Learning, Alternative Complementary Education and Sir John Hunt Community College which enabled dedicated staff to be employed to run the programme.  Young people worked towards a number of nationally accredited units in horticulture, plastering, painting and decorating, car valeting and construction. The programme also worked to build confidence and overcome personal barriers to achievement, to try to maximise the impact and ensure as many young people could take part and achieve their potential.