The Build a Boat project seeks to make a significant difference to the knowledge and opportunities for Penzance residents and school students to engage with the marine sector. The aim of the project will enable those involved to discover exciting career options that being part of a coastal town can offer through employer led marine careers advice and skills development. Over the course of a six-we
ek period (end May - end June, 2016), this ambitious project will erect a highly visible temporary boat building training centre on the Treneere Estate. Cornwall Marine Network will create a tailored but flexible programme that encourages residents / school students to become involved in boat building activities. They will learn new skills and boat building techniques including the building, preparing and finishing of two 8ft ply wooden boats for ongoing community use. Furthermore, participants will learn softer outcomes such as team work, communications and work ethic. Simultaneously, opportunities will be provided for residents / students to meet and network with local marine employers about the range of local marine career options and pathways. As a result, participants will be supported to access accredited skills pathways and wider employment opportunities to enhance their progression into jobs. The boats that are built will serve to create a community focus for a ‘grand boat launch’ event, enabling those involved in the boats’ construction to celebrate and see the efforts of their work on the water whilst creating roles and opportunities for others to participate in the planning and celebration, furthering community involvement. The maintenance of the boats subsequent to their launch will fall to the residents of the estate, to which ownership of the boats is to be gifted. The great thing about the project is that participants can ‘drop in’ to the temporary boat building centre whenever they like, committing as much or as little time as they are able, whether they wish to pop in for a session or more of boat building, to gain an insight into marine career options, for support to access wider employment opportunities or to help in the planning and organisation of the ‘grand boat launch’. For those wishing to get involved with the project, including marine businesses able to support the project by talking to participants about the marine career in which they work, please email [email protected] or telephone Cornwall Marine Network on 01326 211382.
