Apprentice joiners create community street libraries for 3 new developments
Apprentice joiners have put the finishing touches to community street libraries they have created for new housing developments.
The initiative is part of our commitment to fostering a real sense of community within our new developments. The street libraries are being installed at three developments, including Blackberry Park near Bristol, Charfield Gardens in South Gloucestershire, and Great Oldbury in Gloucestershire.
The street library is a wooden, fully weather-proofed outdoor store with a Perspex door that can hold around 50 books for exchange by residents. It offers people the chance to take part in a simple, free to access, community book-swap.
The street libraries have been constructed by young people on our apprenticeship programme. We take on six apprentices every year and the joinery apprentices have been busy building the street libraries as part of their level two and three qualifications in carpentry.
Apprentice Cezary Poniatowski, 21, from Bristol, started his apprenticeship in 2018 and has been working on the street library for Blackberry Park in Coalpit Heath near Bristol. He says: “I’m in my third year of my apprenticeship at Barratt Homes and I’m getting a great learning experience and high level skills. I have been working on first and second fix jobs such as fitting doors, skirting boards, and roof joists. I’m really lucky because I started my apprenticeship with Carillion, then, when they went into receivership, Barratt Homes took me on and now I have nearly completed my level three qualification in joinery. After that I will be all set to continue my career in construction.”
Local apprentice Drew Lewis, 19, who has been working on the street library for Charfield Gardens, is halfway through his level two apprenticeship. He says: “I really like the variety of work we do – no two days are the same. Working with all the other trades on site is fun and it’s satisfying watching the houses go up. I’m enjoying it so much I’m hoping to go onto do my level 3.”
Apprentice Ethan Godwin, 18, who has been working on Great Oldbury’s street library, says: “I feel incredibly lucky to be here, I came straight onto this apprenticeship from school and it’s great – with on the job training I can earn as I learn. I really enjoy working in a team on-site, everyone is really friendly and supportive. I would like to stay with Barratt Homes to do my level three qualification and after that, the opportunities are endless. “
Andrea Pilgrim, Sales Director says: “These street libraries are just one way we are working hard to create a real sense of community within the new developments we are creating. We hope that people enjoy using them, perhaps discover a new book they might not have tried otherwise, or even make new connections within their community through the initiative. It is particularly rewarding to see our young apprentices embracing this project; they have done a fantastic job of creating the street libraries and we congratulate them on their excellent craftsmanship.”