I came for a look around the centre and had a taster of different trades. I didn’t fit in the school environment and I have always had an interest in construction. You’ll definitely be better than the boys! Give it a go.” I’ve made real friends here and I actually want to get up in the mornings to go to PVC. “Definitely! I thought I’d be the only girl, but I’m not. Would she recommend it to other girls thinking of coming? It will be great to get my City and Guilds qualifications” It means I am not panicking with deadlines, so suits me. We have to do online learning as well like health and safety and understanding all the different tools, but you can just work steadily on that and ask questions when you’re not sure. The teachers are great, everyone gets individual help and it’s good to be able to go at your own pace. I’ve already learned loads, plumbing, joinery – I’ve installed radiators, fitted a bathroom, made boxes and windowsills. My friends think it’s cool what I do here. “It’s much better for me than sixth-form – you learn while having fun. They really support you, not just teaching you construction skills, but in generally listening and helping if you’re not having a great day. You get half an hour for lunch and it’s a great atmosphere in the centre. “You look at the board on the wall when you get here and see what you’re doing that day – it could be bricklaying in the morning and plastering in the afternoon for example. I was relieved to see there were other girls at the centre too and I also met a boy who had started on that day too and we’ve become good friends since then. “I thought I’d be the only girl there, so my teacher suggested I went for a taster day, and I loved it straight away. After speaking with her teachers, they suggested she took a look at Preston Vocational Centre who deliver a range of construction training and work with young people and adults from several schools and community groups across the region.Īt first Morgan said she was nervous about coming: She felt bored with traditional classroom lessons and felt she needed something she could really get stuck into, something that would excite her. Morgan goes to college in Moor Park where she is studying Maths and English. “At first you might think you’re not as strong as you are, but you’ll learn that. What final piece of advice would Lola give other girls thinking of getting into construction? Lola comes to PVC on Wednesdays and Thursdays, always making sure she has that all important brew before she looks at the board to see what she’s learning that day! When not at PVC, Lola is busy chipping wood and cutting branches with MR Tree Surgery and also works in a shop over the weekends. The tutors are all really good and supportive." I’m in my second year at PVC now, so already have health and safety, joinery, and plumbing certificates. As well as the practical learning, I’m also studying Maths and English GSCE with Hawthorn Education. “I’m pretty handy at all the trades – electrical work, plumbing, bricklaying, plastering and painting and decorating and really enjoy coming to PVC. They soon stop! The tutors call me The Enforcer! You just have to be a bit fiery and give as good as you get. I set myself high standards and enjoy all the trades we learn. We caught up with Lola while she was in the middle of building a wall at the Preston-based centre and asked her about her experiences in particular, what it’s like to be a young woman in what is traditionally seen as a male-dominated profession. Despite the challenges she faced, she hasn’t let anything deter her from chasing her dreams and after spells in several schools, she has now found her forte gaining experience working with a tree surgery company in between studying for her City and Guilds construction qualifications at Preston Vocational Centre. Lola, 16, didn’t have the best start in life and lives as a “looked after” young person in residential care.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |