Residents from the Brentwood Foyer are celebrating new found practical skills and confidence from designing and building their own outdoor furniture.

Brentwood Foyer,  a Centra Care and Support supported housing scheme which helps vulnerable young people gain independence, teamed up with housing provider Circle Housing Old Ford to offer residents a 12 week project to produce furniture from design to completion following their request to gain practical skills and hands on learning.

Participants received extensive training, advice and support covering model making, testing, scaling and the design process at the centre.

Sue Wardell, Involvement Manager at Centra Care & Support, said: “With the fantastic support of trainer Rick Levene and Circle Housing Old Ford we have not only seen these eleven young people produce quality furniture to be proud of, but gain confidence and essential life skills, such as team work and problem solving. We would like this programme to be the first of many partnership projects we can offer our young people.”

Once the participants completed their individual designs, the work of Bradley Trunks was chosen to be developed into a full scale product by the group.

Inspired by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, his designs proposed a set of low slung furniture.

The group worked together to develop the design and produce the finished set which was revealed at a ceremony at Brentwood Foyer.

Bradley said: “This design was inspired by a Knotage chair I saw when we visited the Victoria & Albert Museum.

"I feel lucky to have been given the opportunity to participate in a design and construction project as it’s really helped me to focus my attention while gaining useful and practical skills.”