Porsche helps Hillingdon gear up for motoring lessons
The new SKIDZ Hillingdon road user education project is now open and successfully running its first courses, following funding and development assistance from Porsche Cars GB.
The exciting new motor vehicle project, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Shirley Harper-O'Neill, will enable hundreds of young people across the London borough of Hillingdon to develop their passion for motor vehicle maintenance and safer road usage, whether as drivers, riders or pedestrians.
In 2008, Porsche Cars GB approached SKIDZ with a three year investment donation of £375,000, specifically to help the charity realise its dream of developing its workshops with a London-based branch. Since then, the SKIDZ Hillingdon venture has been realised through the co-operation of numerous local partnerships and is the culmination of three years’ hard work and fund-raising.
Based at West Drayton Young People’s Centre, there is already growing interest in the local area, with more than 120 students expected to enrol in the new Hillingdon road user education project this year.
The courses give young people age 13 to 19 a chance to gain vocational skills in motor mechanics in an adult work-style environment so that they have a better chance of finding future employment. For example, in the Primary Skills workshop, students will be able to gain certificates in Basic Car Maintenance and Health and Safety by learning how to service engines, check brakes, change wheels and balance tyres, as well as learning about health and safety in the workplace and safe driving on the road.
Steve Godfrey, Director of the SKIDZ Motor Project said: “We are passionate about teaching young people about motor vehicle maintenance and when Porsche approached us with some generous funding, Hillingdon was the obvious choice to develop the SKIDZ project. We are extremely grateful for their help in setting this up and are very excited to be able to open such a fantastic workshop for these young people to learn in.”
