A TEENAGER from Callington now has a new job thanks to a scheme which gives grants to help jobless newcomers into the wood industry in Cornwall. Former Duchy College countryside and environment student Chris Leach, 17, prefers the practical work in the Crocadon Sawmill yard to college. The Woodworks funding through the Silvanus Trust has paid for Chris to get training in using saws to cut planks, driving a forklift and using a chainsaw to prepare timber for planking. Chris, who was unemployed before starting his new full-time post, said: 'The training has given me more opportunities and enabled me to get an interesting job locally.' Mike Mann of Crocadon Sawmill has used Woodworks funding for the past three years to help him take on local staff. The grants allow him to have unemployed, inexperienced staff and train them up to become valuable members of his small workforce. Crocadon saws local hardwoods for building restoration, hardwood flooring, joiners and local furniture makers. Mike is now in the process of installing three kilns to dry the wood to supply his expanding market. He said: 'It's very difficult to find local staff who are skilled in wood processing and saw milling. 'The Woodworks project enables us to use young local guys, training them up for the sort of business I have. It's had a high success rate, so I'm really happy with it.' The Silvanus Trust is proud to be helping this small rural business grow, with investment from Jobcentre Plus and the Objective One European Social Fund. The Woodworks grant is specifically for unemployed people starting work in the wood sector in Cornwall.
