22.08.06
Have a go at cob building in Stithians

Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust (CSBT) is building a bus shelter in the middle of Stithians as part of its skills training programme.

Cob is the ancient art of building with earth materials and if you live near Stithians you can join 'Cob in Cornwall' on any of the next four Thursdays and have a go at cob building.

CSBT's Paul Bright says: "Small community projects like the Stithians bus shelter offer us a number of training opportunities whilst also demonstrating traditional materials and methods which are at risk of being lost.

"Our STAKES (Skills Training in Key Emerging Sectors) training in traditional and sustainable skills needs real build situations for trainees to add to their assessed portfolios. Whilst our BSC (Building Sustainably in Cornwall) Project is about demonstrating and stimulating demand for local products and services."

The Stithians bus shelter achieves many of these aims whilst providing a facility for the people of Stithians that has long been on their wish list; a better bus service is also atop that list.

If any local people want to lend a hand they should contact CSBT on 01726 68654 and book a slot, from an hour to a day. The build is small so can only handle three or four trainees at once.

You will need old clothes, tough boots or wellies and if you are under sixteen a letter from your parents to say they are happy for you to attend (parents may also accompany). Be prepared to have fun and get quite dirty.

The shelter has a low cement concrete reinforced slab foundation and a granite footing beneath the cob structure, which will be lime plastered. The roof will be of Delabole scantle slates, which are wet-laid on lime mortar. This is a very weather resistant traditional method with many other local examples in existence. The slate roofing will be carried out by CSBT trainees, commencing in mid September.

The trainees will be on the next traditional skills course leading to an NVQ2, based at Robinson's Shaft in Pool and there are still a few places left for builders wishing to improve their traditional skills capacity to respond to the demands of maintaining Cornwall's built heritage.

Now that Cornwall has gained World Heritage Site Status for its mining history, demand for these accredited skills is mounting.

For one day a week for three months they will be able to sharpen up their skills whilst gaining a valuable qualification, recognised and supported by the CITB, Cornwall College, English Heritage and all the County and District conservation officers. The courses are heavily subsidised thanks to support from the Learning and Skills Council and Objective One and CITB Inscope contractors can also get additional grant on completion of the qualification.

Trainees will learn:

• The properties of lime, how and when to use it
• Stonework and brickwork using lime mortar
• Lime plastering
• Wet-laid scantle slating
• Health and safety on site
• Preparing a portfolio of work

Courses are run throughout the year based at the iconic heritage mine site of Robinson's Shaft in Pool. There is still time to join the next course starting on Monday September 11th. Contact Gina on 01726 68654 for more information.

For further information about CSBT and any of the Trust's work, contact Paul Bright 01726 68654, paul@csbt.org.uk or Karen Biggs 01726 68654 , karen@csbt.org.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Building Sustainably in Cornwall Project and in the STAKES (Skills Training in Key Emerging Sectors) Project through the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust is a registered charity whose aim is to achieve a state where all parties are building towards the common aim of sustainability. The Trust has European Social Funding (ESF) from Cornwall's Objective One Partnership and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) via a project called STAKES (Skills Training Across Key Emerging Sectors) to deliver Traditional and Sustainable skills training.

CSBT has also been successful in gaining further funding from Defra's Environmental Action Fund for a project called Building Sustainably in Cornwall (BSC), this has matched funding form ESF via the LSC. The BSC Project is aimed at capturing locally distinctive building characteristics and stimulating local supply chains.

For further information about CSBT and any of the Trust's work, contact Paul Bright on 01726 68654, paul@csbt.org.uk or Karen Biggs on 01726 68654, karen@csbt.org.uk.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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