Young people have been gaining invaluable work experience renovating a Mansfield community centre.

Voluntary groups, residents, and Mansfield CVS currently use Trowell Court on the Bellamy Road Estate. The Family Action and council’s FOOD club is also run from the building.

The ground floor required urgent work to support the growing FOOD club and private rooms for service users were also needed.

Mansfield District Council has been working in partnership with Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) to deliver the refurbishment programme of work.

This has seen a new storage area installed, the removal of the old toilets, repainting the community room, and the installation of a bike shed to support a new Learn to Cycle track currently in development — all undertaken by young people under professional supervision.

Mansfield Mayor Andy Abrahams said the young people gained invaluable work experience while supporting the community.

“It has been fantastic to hear first-hand from these students how much they have learnt at Trowell Court in such a short time,” he said.

“Gaining this knowledge from industry professionals is priceless and paves the way for a career path and positive opportunities ahead of them.

“These works will benefit everyone who uses the centre, from community groups to residents. The students have transformed the space and freed up other rooms, which could generate an income for the building, making it sustainable for the future.”

One of the young people working on the project is 17-year-old Alex Davis, who is on a bricklaying course at Inspire College.

“I’ve been doing painting and decorating, sanding walls down, and health and safety practice — and have found this work experience to be really helpful alongside my course. If I had another chance, I would do this again.

“This is all new to me. I have never done any of these skills before. The only work experience I had was at home doing little bits around the house.

“This has been a stepping stone to show me what work is like and how it makes you feel.

“It has been a good opportunity for me to make friends and to get experience in different trades. It’s better to try this than not. It can be hard at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.”

VIY combines DIY and volunteering by challenging young people, aged 14 to 24, to help repair and refurbish youth and community facilities while learning vocational trade skills.

Georgina Homer, project manager for VIY Midlands, added: “We’re doing the project at Trowell Court Community Centre to help increase the foodbank’s capacity and create a storage space for bikes that can be loaned out to young people and used on the cycle track that is being built on the estate.

“What’s really great about this project is that we offer young people in the area the chance to come down and build connections, not only with the centre itself, but also to get that construction element of experience within a trade.

“We’ve been fortunate that many young people have been interested and are enjoying it so far. Many have also passed their first round of assessments too. It’s been a real brokerage step for them to find out if this is a possible career for them beyond this project.”

Young people on site are working towards an entry-level City & Guilds trade skills accreditation.

Materials for the project have been supported by the Travis Perkins Mansfield branch, which delivered all the materials, a shed, and tools to help the young people. Dulux also donated surplus paint and brushes.

Callum Winterton, learning support assistant at Inspire College, added: “I’ve been working with the students on this project and it’s been a really good work experience for them.

“We had a visit from VIY, who told the students about an opportunity coming up in Mansfield covering everything — joinery, carpentry and decorating. Three of the students have come along to take part and have had invaluable work experience.

“Hopefully, it has given them the push to get into the trade.

“When I walked in on the first day they were all a little nervous and didn’t know quite what to do. Now they arrive, grab the paint, and use their initiative a lot more; they are more confident in themselves and their mentors too.”

The Trowell Court project was enabled through the Community Renewal Fund, delivered from central Government to VIY in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council to deliver 18 projects across the year spread across Mansfield, Bassetlaw, and Newark and Sherwood.