Castles and Coasts staff help transform local school building

Castles and Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) rallied a team of enthusiastic colleagues keen to volunteer their time to help Ashfield Junior School. 

Ashfield School, adjacent to CCHA’s Stoneleigh office in Workington, recently received a building from a local college with the vision of transforming it into a sensory room and facility for additional student support. However, the school quickly became overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to bring this dream to life. 

Hearing about the school's predicament, CCHA colleague Garry Langley knew he had to get involved. Garry discussed the possibility of helping with Castles and Coasts Services (CCS) Operations Manager Stephen Busby, who fondly remembered his own time as a student at Ashfield. Together, they devised a plan and presented it to CCHA’s Charity and Volunteering Committee (CVC). 

Colleagues from across the organisation stepped forward, all eager to use their one allocated volunteering day, generously provided by CCHA, to support this worthy cause. 

While CCS had already completed some preparation work on the building, the volunteers' contributions were invaluable on the day. They painted rooms and tidied the garden area, significantly helping the project's progress. 

Sue Frost, Head of Ashfield Junior School said:  

“Thank you to Castles and Coasts for volunteering their time, energy and resources to help our school. They have decorated three rooms in the building so we can start using it in September. We are so grateful for their support and kindness and hope that this will be the start of a great friendship that will develop further next year. Thanks CCHA, you are amazing!” 

The school further expressed their gratitude by inviting a small group of CCHA colleagues to an assembly, where students presented a handmade thank you card. They also kindly treated volunteers on the day to ice cream! 

Adam Gould, Head of Customer Services and Engagement at CCHA said: 

“This collaborative effort from colleagues across CCHA demonstrates the positive impact we can have when we come together to support our neighbours. It was great to meet some of the pupils who will benefit from the additional space we helped to create. We’re looking forward to returning to the school in September to explain more about the work we do and perhaps inspire the pupils to consider a career at CCHA!”