Building for Success – Young People learn new Heritage Skills
Young people from across Sussex took part in a Heritage Skills Taster Day at Weald & Downland Living Museum on 19th March 2025, gaining hands-on experience in traditional building crafts vital to the future of conservation.
Funded by the South Downs National Park Authority, the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust and The Swire Charitable Trust, the day was designed to inspired the next generation of builders to explore exciting career opportunities.
The 2025 event built on the success of last year’s pilot project, where 27 students were introduced to heritage skills, with 11 awarded bursaries for further training. This year, the day grew to 39 students from Brighton Metropolitan College, Chichester College and Crawley College.
The students got the opportunity to ‘taste’ four different building crafts:
- Practical Timber Repairs taught by timber expert Joe Thompson
- Brickmaking led by Weald & Downland Living Museum Interpreter Steve Scott and Tutor William Cove
- Hurdle Making taught by Museum Curator, Julian Bell
- Wattle & Daub led by Learning Officer, Mark Havey and Curatorial Assistant, Piotr Dlugaszek.
All students who attended the Taster Day will have the opportunity to further their learning through the Sussex Heritage Trust Bursary Scheme, which funds short courses in building conservation and connects young people with local employers.
To learn more about the Sussex Heritage Trust and the Heritage Skills Taster Day, and the educational bursaries supporting young people in building conservation, click here.
