Budding gardeners from St Oswald’s Primary School have added the finishing touches to flowerbeds at a new housing development in Hebburn, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Able Construction.
Eight year five pupils from the school visited the site to help the team plant the first flowers in the communal garden of the new bungalows on Hedgeley Road.
The planting day was a result of Karbon’s Unlocking Social Value programme, which matches the social value commitments of Karbon’s contractors, such as Able Construction, with projects and groups in the local community.
When asked what social value means to Able, Contracts Manager Les Wharton said: “It’s important to engage with our local community and help the next generation to develop new skills. We’ve been able to go into St Oswald’s and give the pupils an idea of what we do and what opportunities are out there for them linked to construction.
“This project has been especially rewarding for us and seeing the pupils here at the development getting stuck in has been lovely.”
The planting was the final element of Able’s partnership with the school. The pupils have also received hands-on design and technology experience and gained insight into the world of construction, thanks to the Able team delivering 20 hours of sessions in the school.
To compliment the school sessions Able also made a £500 donation to St Oswald’s to cover the cost of a workbench and additional woodwork equipment, enabling the pupils to explore real examples of joinery in their Forest School project.
Nicola, a teacher at St Oswald’s explained the positive impact of the social value collaboration: “The children designed a workbench which Able then helped them build and they’ve since used it for the practical elements of their curriculum topic.
“Thanks to additional funding from Karbon, we’ve been able to buy gardening equipment including compost and wellies which have enabled the children to learn outside. I think as a result we’ve got lots of budding engineers and gardeners.”
The partnership with the school has developed alongside Able’s completion of 21 supported living homes in the borough, a partnership between Karbon and South Tyneside Council to support residents with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs to live more independently.
The homes will be split across two sites, with 10 bungalows on the former Father James Welsh Day Centre site in Hebburn and 11 homes, compromising of 5 bungalows and a block of six one and two-bed flats, being built on the former Nolan Hall on Concorde Way Jarrow.
Jess Alexander, Social Value Coordinator at Karbon, said: “Some of the social value programmes with our supply chains involve working with local schools, colleges and other education pathways. Able has delivered a range of engagement with St Oswald’s, helping bring to life the potential of a career in construction with students of all ages.
“The site visit to Hedgeley Road has allowed the year five pupils to come and see how the building site has progressed and play a role in making it an attractive place for people to live.”
Able also took on a bricklaying apprentice, giving on the job experience to a student completing the Level 2 bricklaying course at New College Durham, alongside a full-time foreman and both a full-time and a part-time Groundworker, for the duration of the contract.
Budding gardeners from St Oswald’s Primary School have added the finishing touches to flowerbeds at a new housing development in Hebburn, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Able Construction.
Eight year five pupils from the school visited the site to help the team plant the first flowers in the communal garden of the new bungalows on Hedgeley Road.
The planting day was a result of Karbon’s Unlocking Social Value programme, which matches the social value commitments of Karbon’s contractors, such as Able Construction, with projects and groups in the local community.
When asked what social value means to Able, Contracts Manager Les Wharton said: “It’s important to engage with our local community and help the next generation to develop new skills. We’ve been able to go into St Oswald’s and give the pupils an idea of what we do and what opportunities are out there for them linked to construction.
“This project has been especially rewarding for us and seeing the pupils here at the development getting stuck in has been lovely.”
To compliment the school sessions Able also made a £500 donation to St Oswald’s to cover the cost of a workbench and additional woodwork equipment, enabling the pupils to explore real examples of joinery in their Forest School project.
Nicola, a teacher at St Oswald’s explained the positive impact of the social value collaboration: “The children designed a workbench which Able then helped them build and they’ve since used it for the practical elements of their curriculum topic.
“Thanks to additional funding from Karbon, we’ve been able to buy gardening equipment including compost and wellies which have enabled the children to learn outside. I think as a result we’ve got lots of budding engineers and gardeners.”
The partnership with the school has developed alongside Able’s completion of 21 supported living homes in the borough, a partnership between Karbon and South Tyneside Council to support residents with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs to live more independently.
The homes will be split across two sites, with 10 bungalows on the former Father James Welsh Day Centre site in Hebburn and 11 homes, compromising of 5 bungalows and a block of six one and two-bed flats, being built on the former Nolan Hall on Concorde Way Jarrow.
Jess Alexander, Social Value Coordinator at Karbon, said: “Some of the social value programmes with our supply chains involve working with local schools, colleges and other education pathways. Able has delivered a range of engagement with St Oswald’s, helping bring to life the potential of a career in construction with students of all ages.
“The site visit to Hedgeley Road has allowed the year five pupils to come and see how the building site has progressed and play a role in making it an attractive place for people to live.”
Able also took on a bricklaying apprentice, giving on the job experience to a student completing the Level 2 bricklaying course at New College Durham, alongside a full-time foreman and both a full-time and a part-time Groundworker, for the duration of the contract.
More news
Work begins on new homes on the Byker estate
Green on the go: choosing eco-friendly travel options
Did you know that the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is transportation? A great way to be more eco-friendly is to choose ways to travel that are more sustainable. Here are some of the ways you can access easy-to-use sustainable travel options.