A unique education centre funded and run entirely by volunteers celebrated a 100 per cent success rate among its students last week.

The Refresh Skills Centre in Bath Road, Slough, has been in operation 18 months, offering a City and Guild Level One certificate in construction skills plus a bespoke media course run by professionals in the industry.

Last Friday it celebrated the fact every student has successfully passed both courses.

The centre was created in the shell of the old Citroen building. It had been predicted conversion work would take three years. But it only took 15 months with all the work done by volunteers.

The centre was the brainchild of regulars at the new Slough Gurdwara - whose Sikh worshippers wanted to put something back into the community.

There is only one paid employee - the two 12 week intensive courses are all taken by experienced professionals donating their services free.

Students do not need to be Sikhs.

Course co-ordinator Gurch Singh told guests: "Every major faith and non-religion is represented. The age range of students goes from 16 to 70.

"Age is no concern. We are here for people who want to make a major change in their life - people who might not hang out in the same social circles but by working together become friends."

Among the students are Jaspreet Kaur Kalsi and Ben Ward, who both live in Maidenhead.

Mr Ward, 43, worked in IT but wanted to make a change. Now he is well on the way to a new career.

He said: "Next week I will be learning bricklaying and am really looking forward to it."

Ms Kaur Kalsi was a bio-chemist but was not enjoying it.

She said: "I really wanted to do something else. My mother saw the media course at Refresh advertised and suggested I try it. Now I am planning to set up in business as a photographer."

The course has a special meaning for Oswaldo Ravelo, 51, who has left the uncertainty of life in Venezuala to make a life here for himself and his little daughter. He hopes it will lead to a full time career in design construction.

Meanwhile Refresh centre is negotiating with the City and Guild to begin a level two course in construction skills.