SIRCH is pleased to announce that they have received two Ontario Trillium Foundation grants to develop new training programs in 2016. Details of both grants were released today via press releases (see below).
New training program at Thrift Warehouse Haliburton teaches basic carpentry & design
Haliburton ON: A 12 week, full time training program will teach basic carpentry and design skills to 8 – 12 trainees this spring, as well as creating a unique selection of upcycled furniture and wood projects (headboards & footboards into chic benches, plain dressers into designer statement pieces, old shutters into shelves or tables, etc). SIRCH Community Services, a charitable organization that manages the Thrift Warehouse at 128 Mallard Road, in Haliburton’s Industrial Park off County Road 21, successfully applied for the $75,000 grant last summer. Chic & Unique Furniture Upcycling will not only provide skills and employment training in design/carpentry, but will offer showroom-ready, beautiful wood pieces at Thrift Warehouse and in other select locations.
Upcycling is a hot trend where discarded furniture is changed to create an (often different) product of a higher quality or value than the original. This training program was a natural extension of Thrift Warehouse Haliburton, which is the place to go in the county for residents searching for furniture to upcycle. Participants in the training program will learn to turn used furniture into functional and beautiful pieces that fits in today’s homes.
“We are very excited about the potential of Unique and Chic Furniture Upcycling” exclaimed Gena Robertson, the Executive Director of SIRCH Community Services. “Upcycling is a very hot trend right now, and by having a local pool of trained people to create quality upcycled products, we may become the go-to place for upcycled furniture in south central Ontario. That would mean jobs and profile for Haliburton County.”
The Upcycle project, whose working name is “Unique and Chic” has been funded as a pilot by the Ontario Trillium Foundation under a “SEED” grant to determine the potential.
The full time course is starting February 29th and is being coordinated by Cammy George, who manages the Thrift Warehouse. Skilled trainers will be brought in to teach design, basic carpentry, finishing and other techniques, and the public will be able to view the progress of each piece at Thrift Warehouse. If you are interested in taking, or providing training at, this program, contact Cammy at 844-847-4381, or send an email to info@sirch.on.ca.
About SIRCH and Thrift Warehouse: The Haliburton Highlands community continues to welcome Thrift Warehouse, which opened about 5 years ago. The Warehouse is an 8,000 square foot space that accepts, good, re-salable donated items and sells them at low prices — furniture, lighting, housewares, electronics, building supplies and other used items. Thrift Warehouse Haliburton is a social enterprise of SIRCH Community Services. Its goals are to divert good used items from landfill, to provide a wide variety of low cost goods, and to create employment. SIRCH Community Services is a registered charity based in Haliburton.
A second Thrift Warehouse opened in 2015 in Bancroft. A basic carpentry training program will also be offered there this spring.
New training program at Thrift Warehouse Bancroft teaches basic carpentry
Bancroft ON: A 12 week, full time training program will teach basic carpentry skills to 8 – 10 trainees, as well as creating a new line of upscale outdoor furniture (deck boxes, water barrels, dock caddies etc) out of wood. SIRCH Community Services, a charitable organization that operates the Thrift Warehouse on Hwy 28 south of Bancroft, successfully applied for the $75,000 grant last summer. Works of Wood will not only provide skills and employment training in carpentry, but will offer high-end, beautiful wood products at Thrift Warehouse and in other select locations.
The North Hastings community has been very welcoming to Thrift Warehouse, which opened next to Kawartha Dairy last April. The Warehouse is a 6,000 square foot space that takes donated items and sells them at low prices — furniture, lighting, clothing, housewares, building supplies and other used items. The training program was a natural extension, as the Warehouse is part of the now-defunct Bancroft Door and Window Factory. “We are very excited about the potential of Works of Wood” exclaimed Gena Robertson, the Executive Director of SIRCH Community Services. “Since we opened a Thrift Warehouse in North Hastings, we’ve been able to employ 2 people full time and up to 4 others part time . With Works of Wood we hope to create a whole new market and employ even more people in North Hastings. This is the first step.” Works of Wood has been funded as a pilot by the Ontario Trillium Foundation under a “SEED” grant to determine the potential.
The full time course which is starting February 29th is being coordinated by Sherry Hayes who manages the Warehouse, and taught by Don Zilstra, who has previously taught college-level trades. People interested in taking this training program should contact Sherry at 844-847-4382 or bring in their resume.
About SIRCH and Thrift Warehouse: Thrift Warehouse Bancroft is a social enterprise of SIRCH Community Services. Its goals are to divert good used items from landfill, to provide a wide variety of low cost goods, and to create employment. SIRCH Community Services is a registered charity based in Haliburton but with programs in many other counties.
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