Scott Barwood

27 July 2023

Pete Lorenzelli

27 July 2023

Dale Bray

27 July 2023

David Goode

28 February 2023

I work for VIY to give someone a chance at the possibility of a future through learning a trade and I love the opportunities to help those who need a bit of encouragement.

My personal highlight so far with VIY is seeing the success on a young person’s face when they’ve achieved a task!

Simon Kitson

3 August 2022

When you start a project and young people come to site not knowing much about trade skills, but achieve so much and get their accreditation at the end. That’s why we do this job. We’re helping them make a positive change in their lives. All young people deserve a chance, a helping hand.

We’re also helping communities. It makes me feel proud when we get great feedback from the place we’re renovating and when we get the young people asking to join us on another site.

Mark Teulon

12 April 2022

It’s been great shadowing the other mentors, and learning where the VIY strong standards on Health & Safety. Sarah, another VIY Mentor who I’ve worked with a lot, is also a class act with the learners, she has a good way with them.

Lewis Timmermans

11 January 2022

Liam Bensley

30 August 2022

Jasper Taylor

24 May 2022

The best thing about working with VIY is that the role combines an interesting amount of trade skills and experience along with communication between learners, other mentors and the project teams. It is a welcome change from the standard site work.

A recurring highlight for me is enabling people to try something different while also just spending time together and (hopefully) helping people broaden their horizons. It also feels great to be welcomed in to a team where I have a clear role to play and other people to work alongside in pursuit of a noble cause.

Alan Dalton

17 January 2010

Alan joined the VIY team early in 2017, first as a volunteer in his local area, then became Lead Mentor, and is now one of our longest-serving mentors. A talented carpenter and multi-skilled tradesman from East London, he has a passion for helping young people who are facing challenging circumstances, having passed through the care system himself as a young person.