STUDENTS are set to give a new lease of life to two buildings across the town using their newly-learned skills.

Level 1 building craft occupation students from Swindon College are going to redecorate The Wick Sea Scout Hut, in Haydon Wick, and St Andrew’s Church, in Blunsdon.

The Wick building will have the craft room, toilet, front double doors and sign maintained and redecorated, while students working at St Andrew’s will work on the front gates, porch gates, internal door and moveable partition for the children’s area.

Gerald Kane, building craft occupation lecturer, said: “The project will take 10-12 sessions to complete.

“It’s a great opportunity for the students to work in the community and gain valuable experience.

“Both organisations really appreciate our support. I attend regular Scout hut meetings with Callum Leaks, project manager for the group, to establish when the work can take place.”

The students have already visited the venues to formulate risk assessments and method statements, tooling requirements and a programme of works.

They will be practising their carpentry and decorating skills as part of the projects.

Learning support technician, Angela Woolford, said: “Projects like this give the students a realistic experience of going out into the community.

“Money can’t buy what they take away from this. We can’t give them that experience in the college environment.

“They are out in the community giving something back and they know that the work they do is going to have a lasting effect for a lot of people that use the facility.

“That experience is invaluable and they get a lot out of it.”

Plastering and painting and decorating students from the college decorated All Saints Church, in Southbrook Street, last year.

For details on BCO courses, email hayley@copycolor.co.uk please call 0800 731 2250 or visit www.swindon-college.ac.uk