Over the past month, the Tywi Centre Team has delivered training sessions at Highgrove for the Kings Foundation, in Manchester for Haslingden Local Authority, in Pembroke for the Town Walls Trust, and at our Centre in Llandeilo for our NVQ3 learners. Additionally, we hosted an incredible event that attracted over 300 visitors to our Centre in Llandeilo!
The King’s Foundation
We were very excited to be invited to deliver a training day on behalf of the King’s Foundation at Highgrove, Gloucestershire. The King’s Foundation offers holistic solutions to global challenges we face today, advocating for a sustainable lifestyle and community development. Tutor Tom Duxbury conducted our Repair, Maintenance, and Energy Efficiency in Older Buildings course, aligning with the Foundation's goals.
Rossendale Borough Council’s National Lottery Heritage Fund
As a part of Rossendale Borough Council’s National Lottery Heritage Funded regeneration scheme, we were invited to deliver our Level 3 Award in Repair and Maintenance of Traditional (pre-1919) Buildings, in Haslingden. Their project, centred on the repair and renovation of traditional shopfronts, greatly interested us, especially since we recently created a Shopfront Design Guide for Carmarthenshire.
Pembroke Town Walls Trust
Working with Pembroke Town Walls Trust is always a pleasure. We have worked with PTWT for the past 3 years developing and delivering stonemasonry training. The goal is to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to repair and maintain ancient walls in the future. Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery, the PTWT has invited us to deliver a series of courses, beginning with a Repair and Maintenance course for homeowners.
Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Fair
Our Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Fair was a huge success. We are immensely grateful to all the businesses, crafts people, specialist speakers and everyone who visited. Throughout the day, we welcomed over 300 visitors who were able to speak to experts about their projects and find out how they can make their older homes more sustainable without compromising their character. We had talks, trade stands, skills demonstrations, circus skills, delicious food and drink and glorious sunshine!
Level 3 NVQ in Heritage Construction Skills
Our Level 3 NVQ in Heritage Construction Skills learners returned to the Tywi Centre for their second week of training. These weeks bring the Tywi Centre to life as we welcome plasterers, masons, and carpenters from across the UK, all passionate about their trade and eager to build on their knowledge and skills. They learn not only from their dedicated tutors (Tom, Joe, and Olly) but also by sharing their own experiences and expertise with each other. It’s a fantastic environment for learning and growth! We are very grateful to CITB for their ongoing support, which funds most of our NVQ3 courses.
Continuing programmes
We have been able to continue our short course programme through funding from the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund. Through our "Lime for Homeowners" course, we have helped many homeowners understand their buildings and the role of lime mortars in older structures. We are also excited to introduce a new course designed to help business owners understand Shopfront Design in Carmarthenshire.
Nell has been instrumental in guiding owners of listed buildings through the process of applying for Listed Building Consent. She regularly delivers an online course called "Listed Building Consent: A Step-by-Step Guide", which is invaluable for anyone who owns, is responsible for, or is considering buying a listed building.
