The new Open Road Norfolk training facility in Thetford opens its doors to young people today. Centre Manager Billie Lawler explains all
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Billie, the Centre Manager for Open Road Norfolk’s Thetford site. Previously I opened Norfolk’s first Affordable Food hub in Thetford at Charles Burrell Centre and before that ran my own business and was involved in retail management. It feels really special to be back working in my hometown, in my community where my daughter and I live. She goes to school and clubs in Thetford too – we love it here!
Are you Thetford born and raised? What do you love about the town?
I was born in Surrey but have lived in Suffolk, Norfolk Hampshire, Berkshire, USA, Milan and London before heading up to Thetford just before my daughter turned one to be closer to her grandparents. One of my best decisions! I love Thetford for its history and how nature is all around us here. The community spirit is strong in the town with varied community groups supporting all sorts from food insecurity to dementia and youth clubs to warm spaces and so much more.
What is Open Road Norfolk and what is happening in Thetford?
Open Road Norfolk works with young people aged 14 to 19 who maybe struggling in a traditional school setting. They may have an EHCP, some challenges around mental health or are just not “school shaped”. We offer nationally recognised vocational training in motor mechanics or construction in a different type of setting. We hope this will empower our young people to engage with learning in a positive way and inspire them to think about re-engaging with mainstream education, apply for apprenticeships or further education when they realise “I CAN!” We are starting with Motor Mechanics and will be offering Construction Courses very soon. The whole team is excited to see how the students develop over their weeks and months with us and of course our Kings Lynn site has been doing this very successfully for many years. I have been very fortunate to have their support and experience to help establish Thetford! And talking of fortunate – we have been very lucky to have had support from so many local businesses and trades as well as support from funders such as Norfolk Community Foundation, the JP Blanch Fund and so many more.
What were you doing before this? What motivates you most?
My last role was as the Nourishing Norfolk Network Coordinator with Norfolk Community Foundation – after opening the first food hub with their support and running that for two years I was asked to work with them and look after the new hubs that sprang up over Norfolk (25 in total). I am used to working in the community and recognise the power of lots of people, businesses and organisations coming together to make great things happen for people locally. Having experienced a poor childhood and adverse things happening “at me” later in life I understand the importance of offering support and help in the right way so as not to make someone or a family feel “less than” or embarrassed. So what motivates me most is trying to ensure that people of whatever age can access the support they need to enable them to thrive, not just survive.
How will it help young people in the town?
Open Road strives to give access to education to every young person in Norfolk and a place where they can discover that “I CAN!” mentality. The support we offer is vocational training but it’s also the wrap-around support that comes alongside it, with talks from a variety of companies and organisations (CV writing and interview skills, tech skills, talks from local employers for example) example).
Opening up opportunities and horizons for our young people ensures that they can apply for that role they always dreamed of, think about going to college, taking an apprenticeship, even starting their own business. With more young people getting into work and having great self confidence and self-esteem, everyone’s future looks brighter!
When does it open (or when did it open) and how can people find out more about Open Road?
After months of planning and equipping the site that we have on the Shadwell Estate, just a stone’s throw from the town centre, we opened to our first students on the 12th January. We had 10 students start with us from Thetford Academy, but we will be taking on more students over the coming weeks and months. They may come from other high schools nearby as well from the Home Ed sector. Our website is openroadtraining.co.uk – there’s a lot of information there but if anyone would like to visit or to find out more directly they can email billie@openroadtraining.co.uk. We would welcome contact from potential students and schools as well as professionals that feel they have something to offer our students with skills outside of the motor or construction curriculum.
What are your hopes and dreams for the training initiative in Thetford?
The Open Road Method works so well because it’s a community response to a very real need felt by our young people if mainstream education leaves them behind. I hope that the community in Thetford recognises what it is we are trying to achieve and feels that they can get involved! Be it a retired mechanic or carpenter volunteering their time or a Thetford company donating materials or their expertise to our students, we want to work with the community not outside of it! Expansion into other towns in Norfolk making access to our placements geographically easier would be great too! And of course my wish is that Open Road continues providing the quality experiences for our enrolled students that enables and empowers them to broaden their horizons, realise learning (at whatever age!) can be fun and that they CAN!
Visit Open Road Norfolk – Alternative Education & Vocational Training.
Featured image of Billie Lawler – supplied
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