News
Apply online
Use our online application form to apply for a course. It’s easy to complete and goes straight to our admissions team.
Brickwork students building towards a brighter future
Posted 9th August 2010
Six Hackney Community College brickwork students were put through their paces carrying out significant repairs on the Woodberry Down Estate as part of the huge regeneration project happening in the area.
The group of Level 2 and 3 students spent three weeks over the summer restoring the estate’s boundary walls, which involved replacing damaged bricks, filling joints and even building walls from scratch.
These tasks made up an intense and challenging work experience programme organised by Woodberry Works, the training and employment partnership on Woodberry Down, of which HCC is a partner.
The students worked under the support and guidance of their tutor John Lucey, a professional bricklayer, throughout the entire project – with the bricks and mortar supplied by Berkeley Homes and the site facilities provided by contractors Mulalley.
As well as focusing on their own assignments, the students got to see the other major work that was happening on the estate, by touring the neighbouring sites and taking in the overall view from the rooftop of one of the flat blocks.
The idea of the programme is to give the students a real feel of what it is like to work on a construction site and to help prepare them for employment. They got the chance to meet with key employers who visited them on-site to talk about potential job opportunities and they also registered with Woodberry Works for updates on any jobs that become available on the estate.
Level 3 student Ross Frew is one of the six who is extremely keen about going into full-time work now that he has completed all the stages of his course.
He said: “I really enjoyed working on the estate and didn’t want the experience to end. It would be great if I was able to get a job working there. I’m excited about the future.”
Eldest in the group Dickson Aibamwenkhen, aged 50, who studies on the Level 2 course said: “Working on the Woodberry Down Estate has been a real form of learning. I will be able to take the experience back to the workshop at College and use my skills on the Level 3 course in September. This experience can only make me a better brick-layer from now on.”
If you are keen on building your own future and would like to find out more about the Brickwork courses we offer then give us a call on 020 7613 9123 or email us
