THINGS are looking shipshape for a local sea squad -- thanks to St Helens Chamber's New Deal Construction Team.

The chamber's construction team are currently undertaking renovation work on the Sea Cadets building in Mill Street, St Helens. The building requires extensive renovation work -- as featured in the Star last year -- and the team is working on all aspects of building work including brickwork, flooring, joinery, window fitting, painting, plastering and roofing.

The participants are currently undertaking National Vocational Qualification in General Construction Operations and have undertaken other occupational-related training including first aid, heath and safety and fork lift truck driving funded by the European Social Fund and Single Regeneration Budget cash.

Steve Tatham, New Deal Training Advisor at St Helens Chamber, said: "The renovation of the building serves two purposes. Firstly, allowing the building to be used as a meeting place for the Sea Cadets and also to facilitate the development of skills and experience of the construction team".

The construction team has two other projects due to start shortly, Christchurch church and community centre in Haydock and St Patrick's Church community support access point, Clinkham Wood.

The renovation of Christchurch will mean that the church and its adjoining community facilities will continue to offer access to community groups and the youth activities evenings. The work involves re-building walls, re-setting of flags and a large-scale plastering and painting project.

The work at St Patrick's will involve the redecoration of the ground floor of the priest's accommodation. Once the work has been undertaken, the ground floor of the building will provide a valuable resource for community support groups in the area, in the form of office space and meeting rooms.

John Bowden, commodore at the Sea Cadets, added: "The work undertaken by the team has been first rate. The labour and expertise provided by the team will save our organisation considerable money in labour costs".

FOR more information about the New Deal Construction Project contact Steve Tatham at St Helens Chamber on 01744 742058.