The Wheels Project
Unit 4 Prince Consort Rd,
Hebburn
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The Wheels Project
The wheels project was founded over 2 decades ago out of what was just a hobby Bob has worked with you people for over 45 years having been put onto Sunderland Education Dept. for part time teachers and instructors at the age of 22, a motorcycle mechanic by trade. Having server his apprenticeship with T Cowless Ltd of Sunderland, he worked for Kenning Motor Group in the seventies, and became one of the company’s youngest managers.
He has qualifications in Off Road Motor Cycling, Health and Safety, First Aid at Work, and of course Teaching. Sometime ago he felt that the young people who attended need a recognisable qualification for their efforts, so he started to deliver AQA Accredited courses, with great success with 229 students gaining over 1,247 units of credits in the last 5 years. We have our own centre number due to offering such courses giving us the same status as every School, College, and University in the country, which also means that we are Ofsted inspected. On top of this we have regular Health and Safety inspections, which are carried out by connections.
Having won the High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear award for the last 8 out of 11 years becoming the most decorated winner in the region he was invited to Buckingham Palace in 2009 for his achievements. The award is given for helping to reduce crime and improving peoples lives both young and old alike, the award means a lot as, it is given by peers in the third sector.
Workshop training is provided for young people based on their individual needs, the courses can last for 6 weeks up to 2 years depending on what is required by the school or centre, attendance can be anything from one half day (for 6 weeks) or four days a week for the full two years.
AQA units average ten hours of work, and 15 units or around 150 hours is equal to an NVQ Level 1, naturally all qualifications and time vary depending on attendance, aptitude, and dedication.
Part of the work includes finding old 4x4 vehicles, which we restore, taking up to two years. When they are completed some of the young people are taken with their completed work to Africa on our Aid Convoys – we have a number of pictures in our gallery – needless to say this is a very rewarding and life changing experience for everyone involved.
We are not just about mechanical training but also about giving young people life skills, and to teach them about the value of teamwork, helping them with job prospects in the future.
Part of our training also involves working with the Police who come to the Project to talk to the young people about car crime, alcohol, drugs, and road safety. This is mutually beneficial as it bridges the gap between some of the young people and the local police.
We are now looking to develop our services into a number of areas to help with both training young people and helping to reduce crime through disenfranchisement.
