An organisation which runs traditional building skills courses in the Forest of Dean will be able to offer subsidised places.

CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training C.I.C will be able to offer subsidised places on its courses to those on low incomes, students or sole traders within the construction industry, after it was awarded £1000 from Tesco's Community Grant scheme.

Tesco Community Grants is run in partnership with community focused environmental charity Groundwork, which has awarded grants to thousands of local community projects every year.

CarringtonLIME runs a range of traditional building skills courses, such as lime plastering and pointing from its training site in Mitchledean.

Ben Kerslake, tutor at CarringtonLIME, said: "There is a national shortage of tradespeople will the appropriate skills to work on period properties. As such, the traditional vernacular of The Forest of Dean is being lost.

"We hope that by attending one of our courses, tradespeople will be able to upskill and work confidently on period homes, whilst those just starting out in construction will be inspired to go into the heritage industry."

Students that have attended courses have gone on to work successfully in the heritage sector.

One 2021 student said: "I've attended both pointing and plastering training. The set-up is great and provides you with practical information and hands-on experience. It gives you confidence and peace of mind to go and take the work on by yourself."