post

Have you got the know-how to be the next Nick Knowles, or the expertise to do a 60 Minute Makeover?

A skill sharing scheme is looking for new teachers to cater for a rising demand for DIY and home improvement.

With increasing numbers of people taking a “make do and mend” approach in their own home, Greeniversity is keen to hear from creative individuals who could teach simple classes in skills such as grouting tiles or hanging wallpaper.

Established in Peterborough in 2010, Greeniversity encourages people with skills to share them for free in a sociable class environment.

Greeniversity Development Coordinator Ian Tennant said: “It’s the start of a new year and many people will be thinking about sprucing up their home in 2013.

“We are always keen to hear from people who want to start up a class, but we are particularly interested in individuals who can share simple DIY skills.

“One of the great aspects to Greeniversity is that no formal qualification is required to teach a class. So if you want to share your knack for painting or plastering then please get in touch via email or the new website.”

It promises to be an exciting year for Greeniversity. The scheme is being prepared to launch across the country thanks to the grant from the Innovation in Giving fund, which is managed by National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

The skill sharing scheme is being piloted in Cambridge, Leicester, Rutland, Lincoln and Loughborough after the successful initiative was bolstered by £100,000 grant funding.

All classes are aimed at encouraging people to get together in their community. Many have an obvious green theme to them, like how to grow your own food, but thriving successes have been seen in sessions on cooking curry, learning to speak Polish and beekeeping.

An impressive total of 600 classes have already been delivered in Peterborough since the scheme was created by Peterborough Environment City Trust, a charity which delivers green projects for a sustainable Peterborough.

For the launch to work, Greeniversity continues to need free premises and free tutoring to be offered by organisations and members of the public.

One new culinary scheme in Peterborough is currently seeking volunteers who want to share their cooking skills with others. The Love Local – Lets Cook classes will work with 150 learners, including 75 from the city’s Central, Dogsthorpe, Paston and East wards.

In the main, the project will work with women who are unemployed, socially isolated or seeking to return to work after raising a family. Sessions will be led by volunteers, encouraging skill sharing across Peterborough’s diverse communities.

Classes will provide a platform to share cooking skills, and development knowledge and awareness of sustainable food.

To find out more about how you can get involved with Greeniversity in Peterborough, please visit www.greeniversity.org.uk. If you are interested in running a class or offering your space, please email peterborough@greeniversity.org.uk