Members of 35th Birmingham GB group are renovating an old Volkswagen T4 van and repurposing it into a coffee van to accompany events taking place at their church.
The group of 9 are part of a scheme being run by MechaniX – it’s the first time the programme has been run in the Midlands and is taking place at the Vehicle Inspection and Training Services (VIATS) training centre in Redditch.
Shirley Giles, 35th Birmingham’s Team Leader, says ‘We’re thankful to be given this opportunity which acknowledges that girls are able, confident learners who can approach this project with courage and enthusiasm, learning skills that will last a lifetime and raise their self-esteem tremendously.’
The GB members and the VIATS training centre were visited by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Mohammed Azim and the Lady Mayoress, Ms Bushra Bi, on Saturday 20 July 2019.
The MechaniX programme, a vocational course, created by Haynes Publishing Group in 2014, is designed to equip participants with the self-reliance and confidence that comes from developing mechanical skills. The participants, aged 15 to 19, will also have an opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership skills which will stand them in good stead and further enable them to grow into responsible, skilled and productive adults.
The programme also contains a strong educational aspect as students will work toward attaining an Entry Level 3 Award for the Introduction to Motor Vehicle Industry and Technologies from the Institute of the Motor Industry. In addition to enhancing the students’ knowledge of mechanics, project management and employability skills, the qualification paves the way for wider achievements including work placements or apprenticeships.
Commenting on the launch of the new programme, J Haynes, CEO, Haynes Publishing Group PLC says ‘The development of technical as well as interpersonal skills features prominently on the agenda of policymakers and businesses up and down the UK. The automotive industry is of the utmost importance to this area and through our inaugural Midlands scheme, we are very pleased to be contributing to this vibrant region’s skills base by enabling young people to develop key personal, teamwork and leadership capabilities and helping them realise their potential.”
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