Lessons learnt at a stroke

A painter and decorator is helping young people at Newark Emmaus Trust to become more independent by passing on his skills.

Mr Carl Ridyard (47) is a part-time project worker with the trust, which provides support accommodation for young homeless people.

He set up a learn-to-decorate scheme to helps youngsters gain the skills needed to decorate their own properties when they leave the trust.

They help to decorate the rooms they live in at Emmaus Trust properties.

Mr Ridyard, who runs his own business, Carl the Painter, said: “I’ve done all the decorating for the Emmaus Trust for the past seven years and I saw the work they were doing and thought I could help them.

“The decorating project gives me a chance to do something positive with the trade I have practised since leaving school at 15.

“I teach them the basic skills so they can become more independent, which is important for them.”

One of his pupils is Amanda Henderson (18) of Currie Road, Newark, who has been with the trust for nearly 18 months.

She said: “I joined the learn-to-decorate project because I like the creative and design element and because I want to have the skills to decorate my own flat when I leave the trust.”

Amanda is a student at Newark College and hopes to become a hairdresser.

Another pupil, Stacey Taylor (17) of Northgate, Newark, moved into the Emmaus Trust house two months ago.

She said her room was a bit plain.

“I wanted it to be a bit different,” she said.

“The project teaches you how to do your flat when you get one.”

The Emmaus Trust provides accommodation for young people aged 16-25 and helps them to live on their own.

Now in its 15th year, it has helped find accommodation for more than 400 young people.