Unemployed people across Bath were invited to try their hand at new skills at an event aimed at rebuilding their confidence.

The Have a Go roadshow was taken to Southside Youth Hub in Whiteway, an area with a high proportion of young people not in education, employment or training.

Organised by Connexions and Bath and North East Somerset Council and supported by Norton Radstock College, the event offered people the chance to do anything from bricklaying to nail painting.

Visitors could also try their hand at making a pencil with staff from nearby Bath City Farm, who were at the event encouraging young unemployed people to join one of its two projects aimed at helping them to develop a wide range of skills useful in the workplace.

Claire Mills, youth worker for the project, said: "The reason we are here is to attract the 16 to 19-year-olds specifically not in education, employment or training.

"It is to encourage them to learn lots of practical skills, and there are a huge number of transferable skills you can learn at the same time, such as team-building and communication.

"It is a community farm and I really want to get as many people engaged and involved as possible."

Also at the event was the Natural Theatre Company, which is offering a course on theatrical make-up and wig design.

Ginni Gooding, a performer with the Naturals, said although the course could potentially lead to a level one qualification, it was also designed to develop other skills valuable in employment.

She said: "It is about confidence-building and finding yourself as well as having a bit of fun."

Ms Gooding added that the initiative also made theatre more accessible.

"Quite often theatre is an elitist thing and people can't afford to go and see it," she said. "We take it out on to the streets and make it much more accessible and are trying to get young people to understand that you don't have to be middle class to enjoy theatre."

The event at Southside was the first of several scheduled in Bath and north east Somerset over the next three weeks.

Have a Go organiser at the college Becca Thurston said: "Anyone who is looking for work, not sure what to do next or which career path to choose will be able to have a go at all sorts of activities which may inspire a future career.

"Activities will include things like bricklaying, carpentry, nail art, catering, horticulture, music and engineering, and we'll have advisers on hand to provide general information and advice about careers and looking for work."

Each Have a Go roadshow will also be attended by the college's Jobmother service – a local specialist in job search, CV writing, employability skills and job coaching.

For more information visit www.nortcoll.ac.uk or call Ms Thurston on 01761 433161.