CALA Homes opens doors

A generous donation from local builders CALA Homes means we are now able to extend our provision for our construction students.

Thanks to the bursary of  £1,500 from the award-winning housebuilder, we have been able to bring our construction department up to scratch thus allowing for a third cohort to start their practical studies.

We know that not all students are alike and it is important to us to provide, in addition to a range of traditional academic subjects, additional vocational subjects to their students, from sports and health, to catering and construction.

CALA Homes, which is currently building its Bassingbourn Reach development in the village, launched the CALA Community Bursary in Cambridgeshire in February and invited organisations, charities and groups in the area to apply for a share of £12,000 to help fund projects that make a difference in the community. Bassingbourn Village College was chosen as a recipient of the bursary, with the money being spent on a fire door for its construction building.

This year, the CALA Group Community Bursary scheme has awarded a total of £109,000 to 117 good causes across the UK. A further 200 causes have previously benefitted from the scheme, with over £200,000 awarded to various initiatives since 2017.

Vicky Poulter, Principal of Bassingbourn Village College, said: “We are delighted that CALA Homes chose us as a recipient of its Community Bursary scheme.

“Following a recent fire safety inspection, we were told we had to change the fire door to our construction out-building, and have since been unable to utilise the space. This funding from CALA means we’ve been able to improve the safety of the building so that we can continue to offer the vocational subject to students, who have the opportunity to develop their construction skills in a safe environment.”

Duncan Jackson, Managing Director at CALA Homes (North Home Counties), said: “At CALA, we have always been committed to making a positive and lasting contribution to the local communities in which we build. The Community Bursary scheme is just one way in which we’ve been able to offer our support to the local community in Cambridgeshire.

“We’re so pleased to support Bassingbourn Village College so that they can continue to provide a diverse and well-rounded education to students, providing them with hands-on experience and widening their skills landscape.

“As an award-winning housebuilding company, health and safety is incredibly important to us, so it’s great that we have been able to support the school in creating a safe space for students to learn. We hope that the college is able to continue transform the lives of many more students in the community.”

For further information on CALA Homes and its Bassingbourn Reach development, visit www.cala.co.uk.

Our photograph (right) shows L-R – Kaitlyn (15, construction student), Philippa Morton Potts (CALA Homes), Sam (15, construction student), Vickey Poulter (College Principal) and James (15, construction student).