Summer success at ABLE Kirklees

Since our posts in early 2010, the ABLE Kirklees team have been involved in a number of projects over the Summer. Projects included a garden furniture joinery scheme and the build of a giant honeycomb for Batley Girls Grammer School!

During this time the team have been learning new skills in construction, joinery and teamwork, which they will apply on the build of the main scheme.

The Able2Build Garden Furniture scheme was a great success. This Spring, the team created a range of furniture to sell at local shows. They built benches, tables and chairs and managed to sell over £8000 worth of furniture! All proceeds go directly back into the scheme and the team will continue with build on this success next year.
The Giant Honeycomb Pavilion is a display stand for Batley Girls Grammar School. The display is being exhibited at the Prince of Wales' 'Garden Party to make a difference' at Clarence House,as part of the START project. The START project aims to encourage all of us to live more sustainable lives, and Batley Girls Grammar school were invited to attend as an Eco School award winner.

Each honeycomb was constructed individually by the Able2Build team and encased together in a wooden frame.

Work on the offices and workshop has been continuing over the last couple of weeks. Some of the team have been busy making and fitting window and door frames, while others have been painting the new walls.

Workshop and offices get underway at ABLE Kirklees

The ABLE Kirklees team are working from a unit on the neighbouring Ponderosa site while the main project is constructed. The unit was empty when the team arrived but the last couple of weeks have seen a flurry of activity as Joe, Neil and John create a workshop, kitchen and office for the team and the other groups who are working on the project.

Here you can see the partitions going up, I'll post some pictures of the completed rooms as soon as they're finished.

Trainees clear the way for project success

The new year saw work start onsite to increase access to the project and clear the disused land for the exciting project year ahead. Three trainees, Joe, Steven and Neil (funded through the Future Jobs Fund) set to work with the construction manager John, to cut back vegetation around the entrance to the site.

 The vegetation had completely grown over the entrance but the team managed to clear it in less than three days - great work guys!