Lancashire Handywomen - a pilot scheme promoting independence through DIY skills

News

Morgan Sindall partnered with Preston-based charity Lancashire Women to pilot a new DIY course aimed at empowering individuals with practical skills to help them live more independently.

Lancashire Women supports women facing challenges such as domestic abuse, addiction, and reintegration after time in prison, providing the resources and confidence they need to thrive.

Six women, who are patrons of the charity, joined our course. It enabled them to identify which home issues they could tackle independently and which might require landlord assistance, equipping them for more self-reliant living.

The Course

The course was delivered over six weeks with support of our supply chain who donated time and materials to upskill our team of handywomen, and to also enhance the facilities at the Lancashire Women Preston Centre. A brief overview of the course:

Week 1 started with introductions and a focus on essential health and safety at Preston Knowledge Quad, building connections among participants from Lancashire Women. The session included a tour of the UCLan School of Veterinary Medicine construction site and covered safety basics like risk minimisation, building regulations, tool use, and PPE.
In Week 2, supply chain partner Active Flooring led a session on flooring, covering types like carpet, vinyl, and carpet tiles, and their suitability for different room functions. Participants also learned about the practicalities of fitting, purchasing, and delivering flooring, with Active generously donating carpets and installation for the Lancashire Women Centre after the painting sessions.
Week 3, led by M&E partner Ameon, covered essential home maintenance for plumbing and electrics, along with money-saving tips for utility bills. Participants learned to identify plumbing issues, maintain boilers and radiators, improve heating efficiency, safely navigate pipework and wiring, understand fuse boards, and monitor electricity use with smart meters. They also applied their skills by identifying M&E components and practising radiator bleeding.
Weeks 4 and 5 featured painting and decorating sessions led by Ambrose Ellis, giving participants hands-on experience as they painted a room at the Lancashire Women Centre. Ambrose Ellis donated all materials and will return for finishing touches, while participants learned about surface preparation, paint types, brushes and rollers, DIY tips, and health and safety essentials.
In Week 6, TMJ Joinery guided participants through assembling flat-pack furniture and installing fixtures, donating a reception desk, shelving, and cupboards to the Lancashire Women Centre. The session covered safe drilling techniques, building furniture step-by-step, using essential hand tools, and planning a flat-pack project from layout to organisation, with TMJ also enhancing the centre's reception with floating display shelves.

Kara Raynor, Programme Manager, Lancashire Women said:

We're really grateful to Morgan Sindall and their supply chain for giving up their time and materials, not only to improve our centre, but to give our users an unforgettable experience and new skills along the way. The idea of the course was to give the women experience of non traditional female careers in construction, as well as giving them some practical skills to help them in their day to day lives.

Feedback from our attendees has been really positive - it's been really exciting for the team to come and do a new theme every week. They've loved every minute of it and it's given them a huge boost in confidence."

Ams, Course Attendee, Lancashire Women said:

The whole thing has been absolutely amazing. I've learnt so much about DIY, from how to bleed radiators, what to put on the floor, how to put up shelves and how to build furniture. All of the staff who've come and helped have just been out of this world. It's an experience that I'm always going to remember - it's just been amazing."

Gill Roberts, Senior Social Value Manager, Morgan Sindall said:

Our new DIY course is designed to empower individuals who could benefit from extra support, equipping them with practical skills for greater independence. Partnering with Lancashire Women, we focused on empowering women facing life challenges, offering hands-on training that not only builds self-reliance but opens doors to potential career opportunities. The positive response to this pilot has been inspiring, and we’re excited to expand the programme across the North West and nationwide, reaching other groups in need, including other women’s charities, care leavers groups, and more."