Training Center
Our main Training Centre, based in a Victorian Warehouse in The Docks, Gloucester, provides the opportunity for a variety of training experiences. ranging from warehousing, distribution, woodwork, business administration and key skills/basic skills through to accredited qualifications with the O.C.R in I.T; Skills for Working Life with the National Proficiency Tests Council or a range of National Vocational Qualifications. Our new retail outlets also provide the ideal opportunity for those learners wishing to develop customer service and retail skills.
Our training has been developed over a number of years in response to the changing needs of our learners.
Developed originally in 1999 at a time when the Project realised the need to work to Government initiatives, FRP set about developing training opportunities for its volunteer workers.
After a great deal of effort, the Project became an independent NVQ training centre in 1999. It was then able to offer NVQ’s in Warehousing & Distribution, Customer Service, Retail and Assessor Training. In 2000 we became an Accredited Training Centre with the National Proficiency Tests Council and were then able to extend the range of qualifications offered.
Through our training we aim to raise the aspirations and achievements of learners through high quality training within a caring, non threatening environment.
We currently offer training to 16-18 year olds on the Government Funded Entry To Employment programme, in a variety of areas providing young people with the opportunity to experience a range of learning.
We are currently one of the few organisations able to offer ‘real’ training in the workplace to prepare people to enter the employment market.
A dedicated training team support and train learners in all areas of the Project and pride themselves in offering a supportive environment that develops the individual regardless of their lack of educational attainment. All staff at the Project actively take on the roles of mentor and guide to our learners. Not only have the learners been trained in the skills of finding work but also in the difficult to measure skills of sociability and development that will help them hold down a job or college place.
Work experience is offered in all areas of the Project to those volunteers wishing to up-date their work skills and prepare them top re-enter the employment market. We are also pleased to involve volunteers who wish to share their skills and knowledge with us in our work.
Our aim is to recognise and develop the skills and abilities of all.
Our woodwork workshop (Gloucester) offers a machine area and a construction and finishing area. Here learners are given training in basic woodworking skills, which allows them to move forward in their personal development. With these skills, they are able to undertake minor repairs to donated furniture, as well as making items out of recycled wood (such as book shelves) to sell to the community.
In the electrical workshop (Tewkesbury) a practically based training programme has been developed to record the progress and learning of the trainees. Here they are taught basic electrical skills and how to test and make basic repairs to electrical items. Several trainees have then used their portfolios of learning to access Apprenticeships and F.E courses that had previously not been open to them.
One of the workshop areas is dedicated to individuals with learning disabilities. To us it’s not so much about disability but tapping into the abilities of our community. In this area the group make minor repairs to furniture and undertake a great deal of decorative art work, painting tables, chairs, dressing tables etc. to provide a better quality product for our users.
We can be found at:
Warehouse No.5
West Quay
The Docks
Gloucester
GL1 2EH
Map
Tel: 01452 524333
Fax: 01452 311173