YOUNG folk involved with the Bridges Project are busying themselves building 15 picnic benches and two giant deckchairs for use during this summer’s Tall Ships event in Lerwick.
The initiative, which is part of Shetland Islands Council’s youth and employability service, is designed to straddle the gap between education and employment for young people aged 14-19.
Eleven young people have been trying their hand with joinery skills in Bridges’ flexible working space on Commercial Road to make the picnic benches – five with backed seating and 10 without – along with the two deckchairs.
Progress is now past halfway, and the fruits of their labour will be put to use at various locations around Lerwick for an event expected to attract thousands of folk to the town from 26-29 July. After that the furniture will be distributed to community projects around the islands.
Bridges support worker Ryan Jamieson, a qualified joiner, has been helping the young volunteers gain the necessary skills to make the benches.
He said it was a great project offering those taking part “a bit of routine and structure in their week” while learning and meeting new people – as well as being able to take “a sense of pride” in what they have created.
“We thought this would be a really good opportunity for the young people to take part in a practical, community-based project to learn new skills, try new things, and have the opportunity to work with some tools,” he said.
Ryan and fellow support worker David Simpson left school at a young age without a clear idea of what they wanted to do with their lives: “We’re coming from that background so we have an idea of where they’re at, so we can support them having been through something similar ourselves when that supportive system wasn’t here.”
The Bridges team works with schools and other partners to provide a programme of varied, informal learning.
The aim, Ryan explained, is to “support young folk towards positive destinations, whether that’s employment, college, further education or apprenticeships”.
One of the participants most heavily involved in the furniture-building initiative, mastering every element of making the picnic benches in the process, is teenager Masyn McKay.
“It’s been really good, insightful, lots of experience – more hands-on than you’d think,” he said. “You get to speak to new people, and it is quite enjoyable getting better with the tools as you progress.
“I’m excited to use one of the benches when the Tall Ships comes around, to be able to sit on one with pride and say ‘I built this’. From what I’ve heard Tall Ships was pretty good last time, so I don’t want to miss it.”
Shetland Tall Ships project manager Emma Miller said: “We knew we’d need extra seating for the events and activities taking place during the races, and it’s absolutely brilliant to be able to team up with the fantastic Bridges project.
“The whole ethos of the event is about giving young people opportunities, and it’s super to see folk getting the chance to learn new skills while contributing to the wider community spirit that makes Tall Ships possible.”
