As someone with a lot of experience in the charity sector, I'd caution that the first step should always be to see if there are organisations out there that already address the issue you are concerned about. Diversity of approaches is good, but duplication can be a problem for all when the target beneficiaries or the resources available are llimited.

To some extent most model engineering clubs are 'not for profits' and so is the SMEE, who run courses. it sound like 'Men in Sheds' may do some of what you are thinking of. I don't want to pour water on what sounds like a worthwhile idea, but it may be that if you approach the right organisations they may either do what you want, or be willing to look at ways of doing it. At the very least, you may get some good advice or helpful support.

If you do decide to set up a not for profit or a charity, drop me a pm – I may be able to help with advice.

Neil

Cliff,

David Clark 1 dipped his toe in the water about 18 months ago on this training issue . His input on the subject would be useful.

There is always going to be a problem in bringing together trainers and trainees in economic numbers and I think that this is where videos can be useful. Again D C 1 was involved in putting the MIT videos onto this site somewhere but I'm not sure whether it got up and running satisfactorily.
Anybody got any updates on this?

Bob D

Cliff,

If you are putting on courses either for profit or non profit, you will still find yourself having to conform to "Health and safety" regulations, also you will need public liability insurance , electrical equipment will need PAT testing for safety etc, etc,

It will soon start to cost YOU money !

Richard.

From an earlier posting :

A long time ago there were the summer schools in model engineering held at Loughborough .

Residential , full use of extensive workshops and professional supervision . One week modules officially but at least a few people spent most of the summer there . Additional family members were welcomed for a general holiday .

Perhaps , for now at least , the tech based local evening classes are no more .

How about exploring the possibility of reviving the summer schools under direction of Model Engineer ??

There are still some locations available .

Would be best to look for professional tutoring again as far as possible .

MikeW

Update :

The other possibility is one to one mentoring .

Hopefully volunteer tutors could found in most geographic areas .

hi cliff,

im a complete amatuer with no engineering training. i can only help re my own experiences when i started building my first miniature loco 30 years ago at the age of 16. i wanted to drive steam locomotives and after volunteering on the fullsize railways reckoned the only way i would achieve this aim was to build my own.

with loco building, its a step by step approach. you start by learning how to mark out a set of frames and file to a straight line and drill accurately. simple turning and machining of wheels and axles follows etc. then boring and reaming of axlepumps and in my case making patterns for frame stretchers etc and casting. then milling and boring of axleboxes. then it's on to cylinders.

silver soldering is an art easy acquired with the right approach and equipment, and a boiler isnt that hard to do so long as the first attempt isnt a belpaire firebox and tapered barrel!

ive never had a lesson in my life, but for many years have made my own injectors and have never bought a boiler fitting apart from pressure gauges (though ive made one myself).

i have a considerable collection of model engineer magazines and have always been a member of a club where helpful and not so helpful advice is freely given!

join your local club, decide what you want to build, and good luck! there isnt anything bettter in my book than 'having a go' and you will soon pick things up!

cheers,

julian

HSE ? Hmmmm……… What a good thing that they didn't have that back in the olden days of the mills, coal mines etc. There would have been no access to all that cheap, expendable, labour and Britian would never have been Great ……….what's more we could all be living that way today. ( Although I note that many of my ancestors from that period died in their early 50s)

N

That's probably a more realistic idea. Perhaps a section could be added to the forum for beginers to find local mentors?

I would be willing to help but I doubt if there is anyone on here within 100 km of here.

Russell

It's usually jobsworths who come up with crazy rules, not the HSE themselves. Like the headteacher whio banned conkers and another one we came across who wouldn't let us plant rowan trees in case the kids ate the (edible) berries.

Neil

Can only be a good thing Cliff. I have done the Basic Traiing course at SMEE, learnt loads and they are really friendly bunch. Unfortunately they are just that bit too far away to get to use their shop in opening hours. It is however a classroom course – no practical. Unlike their poly course which I am yet to enrol in, but that is still project based so all practical done in your own time.

What exactly do you have in mind? Running it through your local club? Project or class/theory based? Practical lessons?

I wonder how many lessons Lathework 101 would involve..?

Why not do as we do here in Scarborough form a group and hire the College workshops together with a member of staff , its not cheap but we think it is worth the money. We have access to larger lathes,large milling machines, grinders and some welding equipment.We have been doing this for the past 7 or 8 years and this year have a waiting list.We have an open evening every year as a means of recruiting new group members, usually one two decide to drop out,not this year. I collect the money and have a contract with the management. We meet for 20 evenings,10 before Christmas and 10 after Christmas. We don't get any help from the College regarding publicty,we are stand alone group.Ted

Very interesting photo. I did an apprenticeship there starting in 1980. There were about 80 in the intake that year. I was one of 20 technician apprentices. There were from memory about 10 on a graduate scheme and the rest were craft level. Us technicians did about 6 months in the training workshop, covering everything from basic fitting, sheet metal work, welding, hand forging, turning and milling. I don't recognise the building although the mills look familiar. The apprentices there have wooden toolboxes where ours were aluminium alloy. I don't recall any surface grinders in the shop and all the lathes were modern Colchester (2000?). We were the first year to be exposed to CNC, writing G code on a Commodore Pet. It was a fantastic training experience. Shame most of these facilities are long gone now. Mine was a 4 year apprenticeship, with day release and evening college.

I'm trying to remember and relearn everything I was taught back then and am working on my first project, a Stuart 10V. Some of it is like riding a bike and some skills are long gone, if they were ever there in the first place

Welcome aboard Stuart, keep us updated on progress with your 10V. 'Relearners' like you seem to turn out some very good work.

Neil