ONE of the few remaining master rope makers in Devon will provide a demonstration of his craft to launch a new rural skills initiative later this month.
Rope maker Stewart Heddon will launch the new Rural Skills initiative run by Tavistock environmental charity WestDEN.
Rural Skills, a three-year project across West Devon provides free training and guidance to people aged 30 or over, who work, or who would like to work in the countryside.
Alan and Sian Stephen, from Brentor, are right behind the project. They hope to offer their services to local farmers but need specialised training. 'Like a ray of sunshine, Rural Skills came along just in time,' said Alan. 'We're self-employed in the farming industry and, after the terrible time we have had with foot and mouth, need to increase our skills to make us as flexible as possible to potential farm employers.'
The project welcomes applications from both employed and unemployed people and is particularly keen to assist women. The three-year project has funding from the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.
Rural Skills project manager Richard Haliwell said: 'The foot and mouth crisis caused havoc and distress right across West Devon and had a terrible knock-on effect on the local tourist industry, so its great to be able to contribute to the recovery of the area.
'Rural Skills will help protect land-based jobs currently in danger and to assist in the maintenance of the countryside — the very reason tourists visit us.
'The project is unique in that it does not have a list of courses people can attend — they can choose what they want to do in line with their own needs. Rural Skills will help them get where they want to go — it's wide open.'
The project will be launched by John Burnett, West Devon and Torridge MP, with a rope-making demonstration from Stewart Heddon at Knole Farm, in Bridestowe on Monday, March 25.
For more information about Rural Skills, contact Richard Halliwell on 01822 614487 or e-mail: [email protected]">[email protected]