Building for the Future: Green Skills and Growth is a transformational programme bringing sustainable construction skills, real employment pathways, and life-changing wellbeing support to communities across South Wales. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, we’re working with over 400 participants from across South Wales for two and a half years including young people at risk, people navigating mental or physical health challenges, refugees and asylum seekers, and others who are furthest from employment. We are offering an opportunity to develop green skills in sustainable construction and land management.
Building for the Future: Green Skills and Growth
What we're doing
- Accredited green skills training: hands-on, practical qualifications in carpentry and Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, building towards CSCS cards
- Real construction experience on live, community-based building and landscape projects, social rent homes, wellbeing hubs, sustainable schools
- Wellbeing at the heart of everything, tracked using our own “My Emoji” wellbeing tool
- Supported pathways into work: signposting, mentoring and partnership connections into apprenticeships, further training and employment
- A programme of residential experiences at our newly acquired residential centre at Little Bryn Gwyn
Why it matters
Although the UK’s transition to net zero could create up to 725,000 new green jobs by 2030, many people in underserved communities are unable to access them. Cost, lack of real-world experience, and no clear pathway into work are the biggest barriers and our project is designed to directly address all three. This builds on 20 years of proven delivery. We’ve worked with over 17,600 participants in the last decade, delivered hundreds of accredited programmes, and consistently achieved outcomes that matter.
Who is this project for?
We’re working with at risk and marginalised young people and adults across South Wales including:
- Young people not in education, employment or training
- Adults experiencing mental and physical health challenges
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- People in recovery or experiencing social isolation
We work through trusted referral partners including youth services, health boards, local authorities, schools, colleges and third sector organisations. If you support people who’d benefit from this programme, we’d love to hear from you.
- Group referrals only
- Free to participants
When?
Programme days: Monday to Friday, 10am – 2.30pm
Programme length: 6–8 week programmes
Residentials: 2 – 3 nights fully funded
Running: Across the life of the project (2.5 years, from summer 2026)
Open day: 10th September 2026. Join us on Gower to meet the team, see the spaces, and hear from participants past and present
Where?
The project is based at our sites on Gower, Swansea, with participants recruited from across South Wales including Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire.
- Our training centres at Murton and Little Bryn Gwyn and natural environments on Gower
- Residential programmes at our newly acquired residential centre, Little Bryn Gwyn
- Live community building and landscape projects across South Wales
What do you need?
Nothing, the programme is free to take part in.
- All tools, materials and PPE provided
- No prior experience or qualifications required
Who is funding this project?
