NEAT welcomes 25th team member to Rochdale

NEAT team members John Kershaw (left) and Nico finishing off brickwork

The Neighbourhood Environment Action Team (NEAT) programme has just recruited its 25th trainee from the Rochdale borough.

NEAT, a partnership between Groundwork and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), offers a 12-month paid contract to people who have already proved their skills on other RBH programmes.

Trainees on NEAT schemes work in small groups to carry out advanced landscaping projects on RBH land whilst completing accredited training.

John Kershaw, 52, from Middleton, successfully applied to NEAT after a successful volunteering placement as a caretaker with the mutual housing society.

John said: “I was a volunteer at RBH for six months and when this paid opportunity came along they encouraged me to go for it.

“I’ve been welcomed in - it’s a good working environment and a fine opportunity to get into a working routine.”

He is working alongside four other trainees on landscaping projects supervised by Groundwork. These include fencing, ground improvements at sheltered accommodation schemes and community food growing initiatives.

Whilst carrying out the work each trainee completes the NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations and Civil Engineering Services.

Phil Treaton, Neighbourhood Manager at Groundwork, said: “Our NEAT partnership has gone from strength to strength. It is great to see the range of landscaping projects that have been completed by the trainees over the past five years.

“We look forward to continuing the good work across the borough whilst helping these individuals to progress in their careers.”

The NEAT programme started in 2010 and this current group is the fifth intake of learners in that time.

Paul Dockerty, RBH Environmental Manager, said: “RBH is passionate about providing training and employment opportunities for people living in our neighbourhoods and improving those same neighbourhoods for all residents. The NEAT Team fulfils both these objectives very effectively.”

Daniel Turner, RBH Volunteer Co-ordinator, added: “Our volunteer and training roles are great examples of how our mutual principles work in practice to the benefit of everyone.

“We’ve helped many people like John improve their employment skills and, in turn, they have supported us in improving neighbourhoods around the borough.”