Lady and the chaps plaster over the cracks for charity

Sue Bunner plastering

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Local woman Sue Bunner has responded to redundancy by retraining in a rather different profession; and, along with a group of unemployed fellow students, she has helped to renovate a dilapidated local visitors centre.

Sue had always worked in administrative jobs until she was made redundant last year; unsure of which direction to take, she contacted the business training division of Hopwood Hall College.

Sue met with one of their Advice and Guidance Officers, Emma Johnson who told her about the wide range of short programmes that could help improve her job prospects.

Keen to do something completely new, she chose the plastering course; she did suspect that this was a male dominated industry, but nevertheless, still wanted to have a go. And so she did.

Thanks to a partnership with local non-profit organisation ADPA, Sue and other unemployed learners on the course were able to learn on a real life project; they helped to refurbish the newly named Healey Dell Heritage Centre & Tea Rooms situated in the Healey Dell Nature Reserve. The former visitors centre has been rescued, taken over and is being run by unpaid volunteers, providing visitors with a host of much needed facilities.

Janice Percy of ADPA comments: “The standard of workmanship could only be described as outstanding, as was the level of dedication and attitude of all those involved."

Sue has now completed the programme, achieving a Level 1 Construction Award in Plastering.

Sue found that taking part really increased her confidence. She’s also made new friends and realised that plastering is not just a job for the boys.

Sue says: “I would like to thank our tutor Mick Tattersall, as he was fantastic. I now wish that I had done plastering years ago.

“I would recommend the course to everyone and, of course, don’t be put off if you are a woman!”