We’ve been delighted to host the Cub Section of the 18^th Carlisle Scout Group in our Design and Technology Workshop recently as they got to grips with earning their DIY badge.

The evening workshops were led by our Part-Time DT Teacher and DT Technician, Siobhan Stockdale, and the Cubs covered the required learning aspects for the DIY badge, as well as completing the practical element of designing and making something ‘useful’.

To gain their badge, the Cubs had to cover safety aspects and learn how to use both power and manual tools safely, and how to recognise and identity different materials such as natural vs processed wood.

Siobhan taught the children about safety in the workshop, how to measure accurately, taught them about the proper way to use a multitude of tools and then they started on the design and build of their practical element and chose to build bird boxes.

Gillian Hipwell, Section Leader for the Cubs sourced the wood for their bird boxes from The Rebuild Site at Kingmoor Park, an innovative project that takes surplus materials from the construction industry and makes them available to community groups and charities, in their goal of creating a circular economy ecosystem and aiding a more sustainable construction industry.

Gillian said, “The children have absolutely loved being in the Austin Friars DT department and have all come away from these sessions with a desire to do more practical projects. we greatly appreciate the opportunity to use the school's facilities in helping the Cubs achieve their DIY badge. Without the kindness of their staff and the generosity of the school we'd not have had such a fun time.” 

Here are a couple of quotes from some of the Cubs who gained their DIY badge with us:

"DIY was really fun. Siobhan was nice and helpful" - Charlie

"Good fun and a good experience" - Ben 

"I really think it was really fun. I liked sawing and liked helping my friends" - Duncan 

"I liked the experience of cutting wood" - Gabriel 

We were very impressed with the way the Cubs worked in the workshop. Siobhan said, “Being able to help the Cubs achieve their DIY badges was a lot of fun - they did everything they were asked to do, followed the instructions, used the tools appropriately and, working in pairs, all were successful in finishing their bird boxes. I was very impressed with their enthusiasm and conduct throughout the whole process.”