Executive Director Christine Townley discusses sustainability of our workforce within construction.

I was at Ecobuild, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, last week and it occurred to me that we don’t always look at sustainability in its broadest sense.

We focus on environmental sustainability but yet what about the sustainability of our workforce within construction? We know we have an aging workforce and need to nurture young people and so the sustainability of the industry should be a...

Construction Youth Trust works with young offenders, care leavers and soon ex-forces people helping them to find a way to start a new life and career.

We often work with these young people as part of a coherent resettlement programme, working with other agencies to provide a joined up approach to helping them.

However, it is surprising perhaps that this support is not available nationally and that is a postcode lottery as to whether you will receive help. I find it disappointing that at a time when there is clear evidence that young offender programmes actually pay back and...

The construction industry received a boost last week with the Chancellor’s announcement that there would be further investment in infrastructure.

However we need to capitalise on this investment to ensure we create a workforce of tomorrow and address the skills gap which is threatening the industry.

Construction Youth Trust Held a dinner last week, hosted by Pinsent Masons, for key industry figures to discuss how we can address some of these challenges and the consensus was that infrastructure could really be a key catalyst for enabling more young people to come into...

The two organisations came together through Pilotlight, an organisation which matches and manages teams of senior business people with charities.

Initially, the IT Infrastructure team at Lend Lease were tasked with developing a team building exercise based on a scavenger hunt which could also raise money for charity. The team designed the challenge in which teams follow clues and tasks that take them around the City of London and also tested and developed their own team-working skills.

The scavenger hunt was piloted on the Lend Lease annual community day where five teams of...

This week the Ministry of Justice admitted we have shamefully high reoffending rates in the UK with almost 50% reoffending within a year of being released from prison.

This doesn’t surprise me as we have been working with young offenders on their release from Secure Training Centres and Young Offenders Institutions for a while. We see the young people coming out of these institutions without the support they need to gain long term accommodation and employment.

Our Toolkit for Life programme runs training sessions for these young people who have an interest in working...

Considerate Constructors Scheme is helping to raise awareness of the work of the Trust through its registered sites and companies.

We at the Trust are delighted that over the next few months, Monitors from the Scheme will be handing out a leaflet on their visits which will give information on the Trust and how to become more involved.

Organisations can help the Trust in a number of ways:

Donating excess materials to support the Trust's mobile classroom project: they make use of surplus plasterboard, paint, tiles and timber. Providing work placements or jobs for...

Pinsent Masons recently held its fifth annual golf day in aid of Construction Youth Trust and the day was a great success.

Over 30 industry executives joined Pinsent Masons and the Trust at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey. The attendees were divided into teams to play a game in the morning, and returned back to the Club to enjoy a well-earned lunch.

Some young people who the Trust have recently worked with joined the golfers and took the chance to explain their involvement with the Trust and their aspirations to work within the construction industry. One of the young...

It was difficult not to get caught up in London 2012 fever and I was particularly pleased to see construction feature so highly.

After all, it is our industry which made it all possible. From the magnificent Olympic venues, the spectacular opening ceremony with its celebration of Brunel and Thomas Hetherick’s breath taking cauldron; it has been a dazzling display of everything Britain’s construction industry can achieve and be proud of.

London surpassed all our expectations as a host city and the regeneration of the park area in Stratford, on time and (albeit...

The Trust and the HCOCF are working together to provide support for ex soldiers who are transitioning into civilian life.

The Household Operational Casualties Fund works to provide financial or material support to ex and injured ex soldiers and their families, including families of those who have lost their lives on active service. They assist in rehabilitation for individuals and families, as well as reintegration back into the community through the provision of education, work placements and pastoral support.

Construction Youth Trust will be specifically involved in the...

Construction Youth Trust has received a donation of £1,000 towards its work in South Wales from engineering consultancy Arup.

As part of Arup’s on-going charitable work to both encourage and recognise the fundraising work their regional offices engage in, a competition to reward the offices that raise the most per head of staff is held every six months.

Money was raised through a wide variety of staff initiatives including sponsored bike rides, dress down days, quizzes, cake sales and other smaller events. The reward for this fundraising was a £1,000 cash...