Frequently asked questions

• Arrival – 9.30am 
• Unit theory – 9.30am – 12.30 pm
• Lunch break – 12.30 – 1pm 
• Unit practical / work placement – 1pm – 2.30pm 
• Session feedback and evaluation – 2.30pm – 3.30pm 

• A range of accredited certificates in your chosen vocational field and work experience feedback to show potential employers that you are work-ready.
• For trainees who are working towards employment, we will support the completion of a CV for you to document your practical work experience and knowledge developed from achieving the course.
• Your CV and unit certificates will validate your acomplanishments to future employeers and voulunteer organizations.

• Day Placements: Monday – Thursday 9.30am – 3.30pm at £70 per day (£11.66ph). This includes registration, administration and certification of the AQA Unit Award Scheme at Severnside Skills
• Cookery Skills: Friday Mornings Only 9.30am – 12.30pm at £30 (£10ph) plus £3.50 for cooking resources each session.
• All sessions are based on an academic year calendar, with half term and holidays periodically. (dates are available upon request)

• We recommend that students stay with us for a minimum of one year, but students can stay for longer or shorter times depending on their individual training needs. (Subject to funding and placement availability)

• Our courses run from 9.30am until 3.30pm, Monday through to Friday.

• We are sometimes able to offer horticultural training through our satellite training centre in which is based at Grange Village and Oaklands park.  If this is something you are interested in, please contact us to let us make an enquiry.

• Our site is easily accessible by all, with disabled car parking spaces near our entrance gate. The site is predominantly all on one level with easily accessible disabled facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site.
• Training Kitchen is accessible for many users, with dedicated raise and fall work station.

• We would encourage people to bring their own 1:1 support if this was required, support needs will be discussed as part of the referral process before joining the course.
• We feel that bringing a 1:1 support with you will be more beneficial to the person looking for a placment as this will make the transition easier, as they will have some who knows how best to support them and they can feel more relaxed in a new environment. However, if this is not possible we may be able to provide 1:1 support subject to funding and individual needs.

• We will have established a learning and development plan alongside regular review meetings where we will work with you to identify the best route for your personal progression. We will have a final review to ensure that we have the next steps in place, this could include linking with other organisations to help you work out your next steps or to help you look for work or volunteering opportunities in your local community.

• You are in charge of your future, we can be a piece of your puzzle that brings your pathway into clear view to reach your goal.

• You will have had the training, knowledge, and work experience required if you wish to work towards paid or volunteering opportunities.
• All of our courses have employability skills embedded within each module and we consistently revisit the skills throughout the year, this includes; time management, personal presentation, communication, teamwork, social interaction, problem-solving, and organization.

• All courses can be tailored to your specific needs. We will discuss your prior learning and experience to decide along with you, what your learning pathway needs to be.

• All of our vocational and learning opportunities require funding so that we can provide quality and beneficial service with real-world outcomes for our trainees.
• If you have an allocated social worker in the first instance please contact them to see if funding is available to you complete a year-long vocational course to support employability skills.
• There are grant-giving charities based within the local area that may be able to provide some funding to support individuals to access our service.
• Private funding is also an option and we can be flexible with the frequency of invoicing to make this more manageable for individuals.

It’s easy to find us whatever your means of transport; car, bicycle, public transport or on foot. 

Our Address: Taurus Crafts, The Old Park, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 6BU

• Public Transport
  Stagecoach operates within the Forest of Dean Area, the main bus stop is Lydney, bus station. Please visit Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com) to plan your route depending on your location.
• The distance from Lydney Bus Station is 1.3 miles and is a 25-minute walk approx to Taurus Crafts.

• Private Transport
• Driving Miss Daisy, Driving Miss Daisy has companion drivers nationwide and can individually tailor each journey to meet your needs. Whether you have any mobility issues or special medical requirements, our companion driving service is often seen as just a wheelchair taxi, but we offer much more than assisted transportation
  • www.drivingmissdaisy.co.uk
  • call; 0333 014 6211 or 07599 011397
• The Robin, a bespoke minibus service, is running in a southern area of the Forest of Dean and a northern area of the Cotswolds.
  • Book over the phone - call The Robin call centre on 0345 2638139 - pay the driver (cash or contactless)
  • Book via the website  - pay via the website or choose to pay the driver
  • Book via the phone app (Apple or Android) - pay via the app or choose to pay the driver
• Please note we are not affiliated with the above private transport companies and this is only a recommendation
• Train
  The nearest train station is Lydney Railway Station (1.3 miles, 19 minutes walk  approx via mead lane)
  See www.nationalrail.co.uk or contact National Rail Enquiry Line on 08457 484 950.

If you are interested in how Severnside Skills can make a difference in your life and want to find out about our opportunities and costs, you can start the conversion by:

• Emailing - skills@cvt.org.uk
• Calling - 01594844841
• Completing our Expression of Interest form