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News Release from: NHBC
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 October 2005
National Youthbuilder of the year
announced
Jeff Bridges, 25, from Plymouth has been named this year's National Youthbuilding Award winner. Youthbuild is a unique scheme sponsored by NHBC.
Jeff Bridges, 25, from Plymouth has been named this year's National Youthbuilding Award winner Jeff received his award at a ceremony at County Hall in Cardiff, where Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly, congratulated all the Youthbuild winners on their achievements
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 8 Jun 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Youthbuild is a unique scheme sponsored by NHBC, which provides training, qualifications, housing and employment for young people who might not normally have the opportunity to obtain employment in the construction industry.
The projects offer on-site experience, classroom-based training, as well as wider personal and career support.
Participants also learn how to build homes for themselves and others in association with contractors and housing associations.
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Chair of Youthbuild UK, Monica Chatterton MBE, said: "Youthbuilding projects have been running for 15 years and in that time have helped over 4000 young people gain skills, qualifications and employment by working on housing projects".
"Once again, we are very grateful to NHBC for their continued support of the National Youthbuilding Awards".
"The awards ceremony provides Youthbuilding UK with an opportunity to highlight, not only the wide variety of Youthbuilding projects run around the UK, but also the community benefits they bring to local areas in the way of young peoples' skills development." Jeff, like many of the scheme's participants had faced difficulties in his early life.
Originally in the army, Jeff was sent to prison for fighting and then discharged.
When his wedding was called off, it affected his self confidence.
Jeff then enrolled in Youth Build Training in Plymouth and stayed with the training courses.
He has since developed good working relations with contractors and is currently being marked for his NVQ 2 portfolio.
The Youthbuild judges felt that he had found the ideal balance between the difficulties of his background and the level of achievement now being attained Jeff said: "I am so glad to have been supported and provided with the opportunity to work with a variety of different builders".
"Becoming a builder is something I have always thought about but it never got further than that until I received career guidance through Youthbuild".
Jeff is now in employment as a skilled labourer and hopes to become a brick layer.
As the overall Youthbuild winner Jeff also received a training award of GBP1,500.
In addition to Jeff's success there was also two highly commended Youthbuilders - Akeel Hussein and Sajjad Rehman from Bradford who each received a GBP750 bursary to spend on further training.
Three further trainees were commended - Lisa Herbert from Leicester, Stacey Dreghorn from Paisley and Azar Arif from Bradford, who each receiving a bursary of GBP500.
Andrew Howard, NHBC's Head of Corporate Communications, said: "NHBC has been sponsoring these awards for six years now".
"Over those years we are really pleased to see how the Youthbuilding concept has developed in the UK.
Youthbuild embodies the very positive and practical role the construction industry can play in helping to tackle social exclusion and regenerate communities".
"As well as fostering partnerships between a range of different public and community organizations, it integrates skills training, work experience and personal development to really help young people realise their own potential.".
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