Bridge Womens Project

Women’s Power Tools
Bridge has launched a groundbreaking new programme in Partnership with the City of Sunderland College to give women the opportunity to try out skills that are traditionally seen as ‘men’s work.’ In a programme funding through the ESF, over 40 women have been able to try their hand at joinery, bricklaying, horticulture, painting and decorating, motor mechanics and electrical installation. This 20 week course, has given the women a chance to try very practical skills and to see what it would be like to carry on with their learning in this area and attend the college to gain qualifications in the building trades. The 20 hour timetable for the course is organised around one day a week, with childcare and transport provided. There are two main parts to the course. Half of it is dedicated to the building trades while the other works to enhance women’s skills in other areas such as assertiveness and equality issues. There is also a built in section to ensure women can work towards the National Level 1 or 2 in literacy and numeracy. The women are thriving on the challenge this programme brings. It gives them the opportunity to break into a whole new world of opportunities around the building trades. Billijean Summerbell, one of the current students says: ‘I think it is really important that young people are exposed to a wide range of positive role models. There are still a lot of people who pigeon hole women into the stereotypical jobs that they think the ‘should’ do. I see this course, not only as a means of educating myself, but a way of giving me practical skills that I can pass on to others around me.’ Another student, Helen Liddell sees the course as a way of broadening her range of choices for her next career move. ‘I have been at home looking after my two children for a while, but I really feel that it is now time to spread my wings. I’ve already been involved in a few confidence building courses at Bridge and I have just completed a Counselling qualification at Level 3. I am hoping that this course will give me an insight into other areas of work. so that I can choose a long term career that is right for me.’ For Teresa Turnbull, the course is a stepping stone to a job. Sometimes the only thing holding women back is their self-confidence. As a stay at home mum, I have been out of the workplace for a number of years. It’s great to have courses such as this that can develop your self esteem and give you practical skills at the same time. Now my son is sixteen, I am looking for ways of getting back into work. In particular, I believe that more and more women are capable of doing jobs. If you are interested, call Jenny on 0191 4170218