To celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March) The Guinness Partnership is running a week of free DIY and home maintenance training for women, at City Skills in Salford.

Taking place between 6-10 March, the training has 15 female participants who are over 18 years old and unemployed or on a low income, and who wish to learn basic DIY and home maintenance skills, such as decorating, tiling and how to carry out simple plumbing work.

Although provided by Guinness, the training is delivered by Frameworks Social Enterprise CIC and supported by partner organisations: Salix Homes, Wates, Keepmoat Homes, Jewson Partnership Solutions and Smart Works Greater Manchester - who were involved in coordinating and planning the programme, and helped with funding the course and providing the guest speakers. 

As well as training, participants are also able to get advice on how they can reduce their energy costs and get the support and guidance they need to help them get into work, including taking part in mock interviews.

Krissy Jones who attended the training course, said: “I joined the course after leaving a career I have worked in for 15 years looking to start a new career. The DIY course offers this opportunity and it has been very helpful in learning about apprenticeships in the construction industry, as well as basic DIY skills I can use at home. The staff on the course have been very helpful and knowledgeable, and I am glad I attended.”

Another attendee, Stacie Pilling added: “I have enjoyed the practical sessions using different tools and using different techniques.  Being ambidextrous it has been good to have the time to practice skills using both hands safely. I enjoyed the joinery session making a butt joint.” 

Hollie Heil, a multi-skilled technician and guest speaker from The Guinness Partnership said: “This is a great opportunity to learn new skills and I am thrilled to able to share my experience with others, who one day may wish to take up maintenance work as a career.”

City Skills, part of Salford College, kindly provided the venue for the week, which allowed us to be able to deliver the training.  Also, funded by the training partners and donated by Jewson Partnership Solutions all attendees received a free toolbox and goodie bag - an amazing end-of-course gift.