Youth employment program launched at FSG's The Spot

Rock in Design was officially launched at 12.30pm, opening its doors to the public for the first time.

The program is based in a new shed at the rear of The Spot and will offer local youth the chance to work for and run a furniture business.

It is designed to cater for up to 24 youth per week who, under coordinator Trent Powrie, will design and make a range of furniture items to be sold on to the wider community.

Three local youth have already jumped at the chance to upskill with the program in recent weeks.

Rhys Sharp, a former student of Park Ridge State High School, said he had learned a lot already.

"I've been looking for work and I few weeks ago came to this and have been going ever since," he said.

"I appreciate the service, the friendliness, the experience you learn with all the machines.

"We've made an upholstery bench for upstairs and we're slowly getting a router table together.

"Trent's explained in the long run what we are aiming to do is to make cabinets, chairs, tables, bookshelves... and use whatever money we make to upgrade the workshop or help the business."

Boronia Heights man Daniel Roope and Ryan Eyears, 15, of Chambers Flat said they hoped the program would set them on career pathways of their own.

"School wasn't really for me... here I'm learning new skills, meeting new people," Ryan said.

The Spot executive director Ken Houliston said he had high hopes for Rock in Design as an employment initiative.

"The whole idea of this project is to give young people the opportunity to do real work, turn up for a real boss, turn out real things that make a profit and ultimately run a social enterprise that needs no funding," he said.

"That will be a great outcome."

Rock in Design was developed with support from the Archerfield Rotary Club, who donated $15,000 to the cause and a $300,000 grant from the Department of Social Services, to be distributed over three years.

For more information on the program visit fsg.org.au