The Mayflower Primary School mosaic was unveiled on the wall outside the yard, and our first Youth East cohort passed their Level 1 construction course, and were awarded their certificates by the Training Centre.

The morning began with our Youth East cohort receiving their certificates for their level 1 Working with Others. These lads completed a level 1 in Improving Own Learning before Christmas, and have been working towards this second qualification since the start of January. The courses are aimed at NEET youngsters or, Not in Education, Employment or Training, who have found they are struggling to find work after leaving school or further training. The added benefit too completing the course with us here in Harwich is that instead of just giving the lads a certificate at the end of the course and then sending them off with new skills to find work, we actually aim to find them work placements as well. Of the four students, (six before Christmas, two of which found work commencing this New Year), employers have been found for them for work placements commencing next month onwards, and all four are set to begin apprenticeships with the Project come Spring. The lads can’t wait to get stuck in to their apprenticeships and/or work, and we would like to congratulate them on completing their courses, and thank them for being such a pleasure to teach.

Once the small awards ceremony was complete, we opened the doors of the Training Centre to some members of the public, Project members, volunteers, and some special guests. Our students remained the meet and greet our members, and put on a small display of some of the woodwork they have been doing on the courses. Bernard Jenkins, the MP for Harwich, some local reporters, and many friends of the Project came down and enjoyed a small spread, before heading out onto the platform to watch the trees arriving. The platform started filling out, and there was a genuine air of excitement. In the yard, Mick Monks and Jeff Webber had prepared for the arrival of the Trinity House crane, which would be unloading the logs from a low loader (the longest in Britain). The trees arrived, and we great skill from the driver, backed it in through the gates and into place with no complication. The crane then arrived with the Trinity House team, and some of their management to watch the unloading. The unloading was successful, with the platform filling out more and more with members of the public interested in what we are doing here.

From here, everyone then piled back to the Training Centre to enjoy some food and drink. Kaitlin, our Director from the American side, met with the members of the Project in full force, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She spoke with some of the students, and, along with everyone else, truly realised how much good the training can do for youngsters in the area. Soon after, the children from the Mayflower Primary School arrived, and we all got together for a group shot, after which many of us took a walk back over to the yard for the unveiling of our first mosaic. Petra Potasse and Connor Boyle unveiled the mosaic, and Bernard Jenkins, Local MP for Harwich and Dovercourt, spoke with the children about how they made it and how much they enjoyed doing it.

Thank you to Trinity House for unloading the keel trees for us, to the children of the Mayflower Primary School, to all our Members, volunteers, and all the members of the public that made the day a great success all round.