Connectar’s vision is to use its concept of ‘Nurturing with nature’ to succeed in achieving its aims, firstly the reintegration into society of ex-offenders and other disadvantaged groups and secondly its biodiversity aim is rescuing the honey bee and other pollinators. Connectar’s Training will offer its clients the Woodwise training programme to receive The Safe Use of Woodworking Machinery Cert
ificate, a City and Guilds backed Certificate of Competence listing machines on which clients have achieved the minimum level of competence. Clients can build up Certificates of Competence and because they are City and Guilds backed, they can be counted as evidence towards other qualifications such as the NVQ Level 2 in Machine Woodworking. Courses will include woodworking skills, health and safety and first aid. The Woodwise training programme is a current vocational training programme being offered to inmates in a number of HM Prisons throughout the UK. Connectar will offer continuity in the education, from inside to through the gate. Connectar’s Woodwise courses will enable clients to gain suitable qualifications and experience within this industry, which will help increase their chances of securing paid employment and thereby reintegrate into society. In the medium to long term it is intended that work placements/internships and full time employment opportunities will be offered to clients who have progressed through the training programmes within the charity. Employment opportunities will be in training and mentoring roles or in manufacturing and production of the charity’s products. Within the woodworking programme clients will manufacture bee hives and other wildlife habitats in preparation for its biodiversity project and will manufacture garden furniture, planters, kennels, and hutches for sale to create income for the charity. Connectar’s biodiversity aim is to help in the preservation of the honey bee, other pollinators and associated local flora and fauna. The biodiversity training courses will cover bee keeping, education, implementation and management of appropriate flora and fauna for maintaining healthy pollinators including honey bees, and theoretical/practical instruction in the management of bee hives. Connectar’s aim is the creation of pollen rich, flowering field margins and other areas across its locality to provide essential habitat and nutrition for pollinators. Pollinating insects are crucial for the success of many natural habitats and the production of numerous food crops around the UK. In recent years there has been a significant decline in the population of bees and other pollinating insects around the UK - some species by dramatic levels. Connectar's aims to help reverse this trend by providing valuable food sources throughout the whole of the insect flying season. Our aim is to show that biodiversity conservation, productive agriculture and training the disadvantaged in specific roles are not only compatible, but mutually beneficial.
