Skillway was founded in 1997, with the vision of providing opportunities to help young people who struggle with the academic focus of mainstream education. The charity is based in the Chapels in Nightingale Cemetery, Godalming which has bought the unused buildings back to life, and allowed them to build workshops to suit their purpose of hands on learning, delivered by volunteer skilled craftsmen. The students are treated as young adults in an environment unlike school and become prepared for the world of work, or further training. One young man told me how he was hopeful to become an apprentice farrier, a very skilled and diminishing skill. The workshops are equipped for woodworking, metalworking, basic engineering, creative arts and conservation skills.
I was given a tour of the workshops and was impressed by the facilities, including all the machinery. The youngsters spoke honestly about their enthusiasm in being referred to the project and seemed genuinely happy and enthusiastic. I saw examples of the work they had achieved and it was of a very high standard. I really believe that it is a testimony to the founders and staff how they are giving a second chance to some of our youth that will give them opportunities that they would not have had without this charity. I hope that we can support Skillway and its volunteers by raising funds and awareness of such a deserving cause.
To donate to my chosen charities this year you can give via my JustGiving page here. Thank you for any donation you can make…
To find out more about my year as Mayor keep visiting my blog https://mayorwaverley.wixsite.com/2021 or go to www.waverley.gov.uk/mayor.