Two hardworking HSDC students gave up hours of their time to transform an old minibus in support of a Hampshire charity.
A complicated schedule of repairs was completed by Vehicle Systems Maintenance students Alex Beaumont and Josh Carter, who fixed up the vehicle to donate to Oarsome Chance.
With help from fellow student Bryce Cox and teaching staff Garry Adams and James Carpenter, the pair threw themselves into the project during the Autumn term.
Alex and Joshua selected the bigger of two college minibuses for the project and got started. Alex said:
“We had two minibuses and we chose the bigger one to give to charity. We cleaned it up, removed the vinyl, redid the brakes, replaced the battery, cleaned the inside. We took all the seats out of both and found the best ones to put back in.”
Josh added:
“It was worth it, it was very satisfying. It was difficult but it was rewarding.”
This is the first project these first-year students have taken on outside of class, using the skills learned on their course so far to complete the work needed. Talking about why he chose to study this course, Josh said:
“It’s more practical and hands-on, I can’t sit still! It’s going really well and it’s changed my life because of the progress I have made.
“The lecturers are really good, they’re probably the best part. We couldn’t have done this project without them.”
Oarsome Chance works with young people aged nine to 21 who are disengaged from mainstream education and are at risk of exclusion and suffering disadvantage, using vocational education and training to help the young people develop employability skills.
The minibus will be used to make sure the young people can get to and from the charity’s programmes safely and it has immediately been put to good use.
John Gillard, Principal of the Oarsome Chance Foundation, said:
Josh and Alex are planning further ways to support local charities, and we can’t wait to see what they get up to next.
Visit our Motor Vehicle Systems page to find out more about the courses we offer at HSDC.