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Springboard is looking for people who want to buy a portable building to support the youth programme.
Springboard has gone into business to help a group of unemployed youth gain experience in the construction industry.
The organisation has funding from the Ministry of Social Development to start a pilot programme working with eight unemployed youth.
The youth are paid by the Ministry and work 30 hours a week with a qualified builder to produce portable office buildings, which can be sold or rented to fund the programme in future.
Springboard founder Gary Diprose says the programme is about building work habits.
“Some kids need that extra support to get them ready for work. Through this programme they get work experience in an environment where we can support them and work through the issues which are preventing them from getting full-time employment. At the end of the programme they have building experience and a proven track record.
“It also gives them a huge sense of accomplishment. They can say ‘I built that!’”
After three months, the students have produced two portacoms which are being used at the Springboard headquarters in Snells Beach, but they are looking for people who want to rent or buy one of the buildings. The buildings can be made to order.
“They can be used as an extra bedroom, office space or for storage and because they are only 10m2, they don’t require resource consent. We are looking for locals to get behind this. It’s all up to a professional standard.”
The future of the programme depends on selling the buildings.
“If there’s only enough demand for six months then we won’t be able to run it for long, but we are hoping this will be ongoing.”
Merv Ashton, 21, was unemployed for about two months before starting the course, after losing his job on a dairy farm.
He’s hopeful the course will enable him to find work again.
“I feel a lot more confident now that I’m able to learn a skill before I go out looking for work. It feels good to be actually doing something with my time, not just sitting around unemployed. Now I want to continue this work and get a building apprenticeship.”
