Past and present participants of a back-to-work programme in Helston got together to celebrate finishing a phase of construction at a housing development.

The Coastline Construct programme was designed to help unemployed people gain valuable skills that would help them find a job in the construction industry.

Participants have been working on different phases of Coastline Housing’s Nanloe development in Helston, which has seen builders Mi-space construct 75 homes for the charity.

Since the back-to-work programme started in 2018, 46 participants have taken part, many of whom have since gone on to secure employment or further training.

Shane Avent said that taking part in the programme was life-changing.

The Australian in his 60s was suffering from depression due to not being able to find work.

He said: “Before I had nothing. No job, nowhere to live and no quality of life. I’m now 63, working here and hope to move from this job to other things and just keep going. It’s changed my life.”

Bee Rowley, from Coastline Housing, said: “Now that the Nansloe development is nearing completion we wanted to take the time to reflect and celebrate the impact Coastline Construct has had on the lives of local individuals and the community nearby.”

Participants were joined at the celebration event by a number of children from Nansloe Academy. During the build, Coastline and Mi-space worked closely with the Academy to transform a patch of grass into an inclusive and accessible allotment space for the children to grow their own vegetables.

The children then raised some funds for the plants, which local company Trevena Cross Nurseries at Breage generously matched.

David Pengelly, operations manager for Mi-space, said: “Our site team have really enjoyed helping local people make a change and gain work experience and training within the construction industry as part of this project.

“This has been a vital tool to support people into employment, as well as to show how rewarding a job in construction can be.”

Sue Bartlett, from active plus, added: “We need more local employers to see this and to follow suit. Being able to work with Mi-Space on a ‘live’ building site has given those involved the benefit of experiencing ‘real-life’ working situations and enhanced their knowledge and skills in the building trade, as well as the social and communication skills necessary to work within a team.

“For those participants who have gained paid work through the programme, their lives have been transformed in a number of weeks.”