A PIONEERING scheme to get unemployed people from Haringey back into work has met with success.

The scheme, which takes place at B&Q in Dearsley Road, Enfield, aims to teach basic DIY skills to people during a ten-week course.

The twice-weekly classes teach members of the group a variety of DIY skills, including painting, woodwork, tiling and plumbing.

The course was set up by Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS), the B&Q store and the Government's New Deal for Communities scheme.

Marlon Hayes, regeneration co-ordinator at HALS, said: "If this scheme can motivate young people to learn and provide opportunities for them to develop a range of skills, then it may tempt them into pursuing an area of work they like and will pursue.

"It could also lead to further education, a work placement, training and employment."

Enfield Southgate MP and Minister for the Department of Education and Employment, Stephen Twigg, visited the site of the training scheme on Tuesday morning.

He said: "The participants on the course now have the skills and confidence to carve out careers for themselves in the burgeoning DIY industry. It's great to see the positive impact of training schemes such as this."

May 29, 2003 12:00