Who We Are |
The Community Workshop was initially formed in 1998
1986
Unemployment was high. Members of the Adult Unemployed Centre expressed a desire to use workshop facilities. 1987 As school rolls fell, under used accommodation was identified. In April, a project submission was put before the Dukeries Complex Council of Management and a steering group was set up. 1988 Establishment of a fourteen-week pilot scheme to commence in July. This was successful, but funding to continue the project could not be provided by Notts County Council Resources. 1989 Newark and District Trades Union Council agree to fund salary of a Technician for initial 12-month period. Dukeries Community College provide premises, equipment and technical supervision via Mike Law, then head of CDT. Graham Cross, Vice Principal (Campus & Outreach), provides secretarial cover and background organisation. Nottinghamshire County Council Education met all premises costs. Main target group - adult unemployed. Those made redundant emerged as the most significant user group. Facing the possibility of long-term employment these were the most consistent users. Almost 50% were ex-miners, 99% were male. 1991 Third full year of operation, managed by representatives from the Adult Unemployed Centre, The Community Development Project, Dukeries Complex, Notts. CC Economic Development, North Notts Training and Enterprise Council and Service-users. Now the only facility of its kind in Notts the Workshop was attracting members from other areas. Machinery was upgraded; specialised tools purchased. Local businesses were providing free surplus timber. Members becoming active in helping other community projects; adults with learning difficulties began attending. Emphasis placed on training and accreditation, although the exchange of skills between users was greatly encouraged. 1992/6 Partnership funding from statutory bodies became increasingly difficult to gain. Other avenues of funding were explored (Charitable Trusts). Work begins to gain Charitable Status. Application to National Lottery was unsuccessful, but useful lessons were learned. Most significant was the need to adopt a proper constitution and elect the first real Management Committee. An Open Day event on 13th March 1996 saw the first Annual General Meeting of the Community Workshop. The constitution was adopted; a Management Committee of 12 elected. Major efforts were made to improve Health and Safety, and to refine Safety Policies. Technician’s post upgraded to Manager/technician. 1996– 8 An uncertain period; the Community Workshop limped financially from term-term. Planning beyond three months at a time was difficult. Work towards Charitable Registration continued. Man/Tec diagnosed with MS - Remploy-Interwork take over contract of employment. Wages still met by Community Workshop; Remploy pay a support worker x 12hrs per week to lighten her load. Volunteers provide management & support for remainder of time. Community Project/ Hand-carved Totem Pole. Sponsors/Notts County Council Next Stage 1998 Second Application for three year funding to National Lottery successful; stability for the first time! Management Committee undertake training. Training & interest courses planned in advance. Six-week course specifically for women provided at Women’s Centre. Four volunteers gain H&S qualifications, 2 gain EMFEC stage 1Upholstery qualifications. Deterioration of Man/Tech’s health continues, incurring a great deal absence from work. Wages must still be met; a Volunteer undertakes day-to-day management, other Volunteers & P\T support Technician undertake all other Workshop duties. Disruption to users is minimal. Community Project/Wood sculpture-Loch Ness Monster. Sponsors-Nottinghamshire County Council Next Stage 1999 Charitable Status Gained [Reg.No. 1077837]. Because of concerns regarding the safety of Man/Tec & service users, Remploy are requested by management to carry out an Occupational Health check. Drop-in facility & courses continue as planned. Regular volunteer led weekly sessions commence in woodcarving & upholstery, 2 vols. gain EMFEC stage two upholstery qualification. Volunteers provide twelve-week course in Practical Woodworking. Voluntary help & advice given to other local groups & organisations. Digital Camera purchased for monitoring purposes. Volunteer takes on responsibility for Annual Report. Community Project Millennium stained glass screen–sponsors/Notts. Police, N.C.C & Nottm, Co-op. Soc. Volunteer undertakes day-to-day Management. Four more volunteers gain H & S qualification. Volunteers commence work with disadvantaged young people [ACE]. Drop in facility & courses continue as planned. Voluntary assistance requested by other local groups & organisations increase. Weekly sessions continue to be well attended; Stained Glasswork’ introduced. Two vols. gain Upholstery Stage 3 EMFEC qualification. Welding Equipment purchased - funded by SRB5 programme. Agreement with Dukeries College to share welding bay. Picture Framing project requested; equipment sponsored by Thos. Farr Trust. Completion of Stained Glass Community Project. 2001/2 Membership rises to 134. Management training continues. Management & a full time volunteer continue with day-day project management. Drop in facility & courses run as planned and are well attended. All regular sessions continue. Full access for wheelchair users completed. Final monitoring for Lottery grant accepted. Constitution changed at AGM. Community Project: Community Garden, Picnic Area & BBQ; Sponsors - Ollerton&Boughton Town Couci; Nottm Co-op Society and - Butterly Brickworks (Kirton). One year Project funding from C.R.T. Eight gain Basic Welding qualifications. Noted that more women are attending and the age of service users is increasing; needs changing. Demand for interest courses increasing; little demand for accredited courses. Decorative Effects course for over 50’s; sponsored by C.A.F. Drop-in facility continues; all courses are fully attended; group sessions are well attended. Volunteers continue to work with ACE kids. Requests for practical help continue to be met. Volunteers commence production of items for sale to assist with funds. Woodturning Lathe replaced, funded by Notts CC; Volunteers undertake machine safety training with manufacturer. Community Project: Stained Glass Window, sponsors-Dukeries College; Ollerton & Boughton Town Council and Notts. CC Next Stage. 2002-3 Project funded by Llankelly Trust, Nationwide Foundation, Lloyds TSB & Sir John Eastwood Trust. Membership rises to 140. Planer-thicknessing machine funded by SRB 4 programme; Volunteers undertake machine safety training with manufacturer. Purchase of tools & equipment to aid disabled users; funded by from Notts. CC Policy & Resources. Specific funding for ACE [special project] gained from Connexions. Drop-in facility & courses continue as planned; all courses full - Cane-work oversubscribed. Sponsored Weld undertaken. Volunteers provide summer workshops for inner city children; assist with environmental garden project at local primary school, construct Tern Rafts for the RSPB & repair musical instruments for school band etc. They also provide demonstrations & taster sessions at local Arts & Crafts Exhibitions and continue to assist other groups & organisations. Two Volunteers gain post 16 teaching qualifications. Management members undertake Accountancy & Media & Publicity training. Discussions with service users continued throughout year to ensure that needs were met. Consultations with Centre for Older People & U3A. Community Project: Astra Globe & Armillary Sundial for Community Garden – Sponsors, Ollerton & Boughton Town Council & A1 Sheet Metals. 2003-5 Two year Project Funding from The Community Fund. First Full Time post for 1 Technician + PT post for Admin Assistant. Day-day Project Management by vol. Coordinator continues. One years continuation funding from Children in Need for ACE project. Membership rises 178. Technician achieves Stage1 Teaching Certificate & becomes a qualified First Aider. Voluntary Management Committee gain accreditation in Evaluation/OCN level 2, Media & Publicity/OCN level 3, Front Line Services/ONC level 3. Machine Safety courses remain essential & continue. 3 of 11 All users provided with induction in Safe Practises. Drop-in facility & regular sessions well attended; too many for stained glasswork - reserves list retained. All Safety courses & special interest courses & workshops reach capacity; reserves lists retained for Silk Painting & Encaustic Art, which were oversubscribed. Written evaluations of all courses retained. Machine Lathe Funded by Bridging the Gap. Machine safety training undertaken by 6 volunteers. Community: U3A - Volunteers provide short-bite workshops during Summer School hosted by local 3rd Age Group offering taster sessions in wood-burning, walking stick making, carpentry & joinery and stone painting {funding for materials from Notts. CC A.C.L.S}. Walesby Primary School: Six collapsible stage blocks. Reclamation of Public Walkway: Designs of local school children carved onto to benches. St. Mathews Church, Boughton: Turned Torchere Assistance to local groups & organisations continues to be varied & in demand. Demonstrations & taster sessions are offered at local exhibitions. Group Project for disabled & aged 50+: Production of a Stained glass hanging panel followed by a twelve-week improver’s course. George & the Dragon Mosaic for Community Garden - Partnership Project/Notts. CC. Voluntary help to other local organisations continues. 2006 – 08: Two years funding from Coalfield’s Regeneration Trust. Membership increases to 205. Paid Staff: One x F/T Technician; 1 x P/T Admin 7 courses provided for beneficiaries, all reach maximum participation; reserves lists on 3. Weekly Group Sessions: Woodcarving, Mosaics, Upholstery & Stained glass-work. Courses through Partnership: 1) Framework Academy - 14 homeless people with woodworking skills. 2) Skills for Independent Living - 11 Learning disabled adults provided with Basic wood-skills. Newark community Mental Health – one-to-one attention for 5 adults(2x early intervention in psycohsis, 3xAdvance support & Inclusion). Special Educational Needs – 52 young people experienced achievement through undertaking practical and/or creative crafts. Community: 8 organisations received voluntary assistance. 4 oak posts carved for entrance to reclaimed site of old pit tip. 2008 – 2010 Queens Award for Voluntary Service presented by Sir. Andrew Buchannan New service-users = 17 Partnership Work: User-groups (Additional beneficiaries = 79) Dukeries Third Age Group 8; Whitewater Centre 2; Skills for Independent Living 6; Newark Community Mental Health 2; Dukeries Construction Centre 18; Wycar Lees Residential Home 3. Dukeries College Special Educational Needs 40. Weekly Group Sessions x 5: Woodcarving; Stained Glasswork; Walking Stick Making; Kiln Fused Glasswork; Wood-skills. Courses x 7 - All fully attended: Introduction to Kiln-fused glass; Trugg making for Over 50’s; Pyrography; Love Spoons; Mosaic Garden Art; Traditional Joinery; Christmas Glass. Community Involvement: Designing & Hand Carving 8’ x 2’ Oak Tree Trunk A Relief Carved Plaque for Neighbourhood of the Year (NCC) Glass Fronted Notice board (Elkesley PC) ‘A’ Frame Notice Board (Sure Start) Pigeon Holes (Edwinstowe Allotment Society) Outreach - Hands On Activities: Robin Hood Pageant; St. Georges Day Pageant. Voluntary Help & Advice to other local organisations continues. 2010 -2011 New Service Users = 52 Average Daily Attendance = 16.5 Partnership Work: User Groups 6 (Additional Beneficiaries = 88) Courses x 6 - all reached capacity: Trad Toy Making; Wood-Sculpting; Picture Framing; Christmas Glass; Painting on Silk; Pyrography. Community: Sure Start - Sit on train and planters for Playground Elkesley PC – Restoration/Refurbishment of Church Notice Board Boughton - St. Mathews Church – New Notice Board Dukeries Farm Unit – Repairs to fences, gates and equipment Dukeries Music Development – Repairs to Musical Instruments Out-reach Hands-on Activities – Sherwood Forest 2011 -2012 Courses – due to demands of extra duties on voluntary tutors only 3 courses could be provided; all reached maximum capacity: Walking Stick Making; Festive Flowers & Foliage; Welding Weekly Group Sessions: Woodcarving; Stained Glasswork; Kiln-fused Glasswork; Wood-skills. Community: Outreach - Hands-on Activities: Sherwood Forest; Clumber Park & Eakring 2012 -2013 Volunteers: Total 21 (7 key vols managing day to day business, workshop supervision, machine maintenance, leading group sessions; tutoring courses ; outreach work in centres for the elderly. Voluntary Management Committee = 10 |