An initiative that works with young people to regenerate community spaces and give them a chance to learn new skills is appealing for them to take part in a project at Farnsfield Cricket Club and Newark Amateur Boxing Club (aka Suggy’s Gym).

The cricket club has started a girls’ team but does not have a changing room for them. Now Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) is set to convert a storage room into a girls’ area. This will involve a safety floor, repainting, benches and hooks.

VIY will also be refreshing some of the other changing rooms and bathrooms with a repaint.

It is looking for people aged 16–24 in Newark and Sherwood to take part in the project in April.

In March at Newark Amateur Boxing Club (aka Suggy’s Gym) VIY will be redecorating the interior of the boxing gym, redoing an alleyway and making useful changes to the back area of the boxing gym.

By taking part in these and future schemes, young people will gain on-the-job construction training, vocational skills and mentoring support from professional tradespeople. They will also receive City and Guilds Entry Level 3 accreditations in construction skills and support with further training, work placement and apprenticeship opportunities.

VIY wants to offer this opportunity to local youth groups, charities, youth organisations, schools and colleges that work with young people who are not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET.

Those interested can get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Young people in the district have an opportunity to get involved in such an important initiative.

“By taking part in one of the VIY projects, those who are disengaged from mainstream schooling will be able to gain vital skills, experiences and qualifications, allowing them to find a meaningful career that they will enjoy and find fulfilling.

“I highly encourage any youth group, or young person, who may feel they can benefit from a VIY project, to get in touch with the team.”

Volunteer It Yourself combines DIY and volunteering by helping young people learn vocational trade skills whilst helping repair and refurbish community facilities. VIY is a recipient of the Community Renewal Fund grant designed to invest in communities, young people and boost skills, and is running 23 projects across Nottinghamshire in 2022.

Tim Reading, chief executive of VIY, said: “We’re delighted to see young people, skills and employability outcomes recognised across this fund, three things at the heart of our VIY mission — and we’re delighted to be delivering on these priorities on local community projects, working directly with young people, communities and people in the trade.”

More information about VIY can be found at https://volunteerityourself.org