TEAM members at a flourishing social enterprise in Blackbird Leys are raring to go after receiving certificates of training in heavy-duty machinery.

Six of the 25 workers at Raw Workshop, which employs people facing disadvantage and disability, were put through their paces by national training provider Didac.

The two-week course has left the group with a renewed sense of confidence and the workshop in Dunnock Way is enjoying a new lease of life after rebranding last October.

Newly-qualified team member Lee Brackett said: "We had some guys come in and teach us different ways to use the machines.

"It was really encouraging for the guys, and it's good we can all safely and correctly work with them. It's boosted people's confidence because it can be quite scary."

Group members are now trained to use a variety of equipment including circular panel saws, band saws, surface planers, cross cutters and kindling machines.

Others at Raw have also recently been taught how to use chainsaws and have got straight to work chopping up timber donated from the former Westgate car park.

Mr Brackett said: "The logs were donated rather than going to landfill. We cut them up and use them for firewood, and we have still got big pieces that could be benches.

"It's busy and it's developing here. We are We are starting a new project on upcycled furniture and I have asked to manage it, which is really exciting.

"People tend to throw away furniture if it's got damaged and they feel they can't get people to fix it, but I've got restoration skills and NVQs and I can salvage it."

Raw employs people with physical and learning disabilities and mental health problems as well as ex-offenders and those recovering from addiction to make wood products.

Formerly Pathway, after years of financial hardship it transformed its image over the course of 2016 and partnered with Littlemore-based mental health charity Response.

In December it received a cash boost of £8,420 from the Oxford Mail's parent company Gannett to modernise the workshop space.

Managing director Rick Mower said: "Things are going really well. We are talking to a couple of large retailers and have had various new service users.

"The training is helping give people a boost. We need these guys to have these skills to become a really successful social business."

A new website for Raw has just been launched. For more information visit raw-workshop.co.uk/