Pupils from Gosforth Primary School swapped the classroom for a building site last week as they visited a new housing development in Gosforth, Cumbria organised by Castles & Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) and Thomas Armstrong Construction.
The special visit gave children a hands-on taste of life on a construction site, complete with bricklaying, sitting in a digger, and learning how affordable homes are built in their own village.
After receiving a safety briefing from Ian Morgan, Health and Safety Manager for Thomas Armstrong, the pupils toured the site, met workers, and took part in fun, practical activities designed to inspire interest in construction careers and teach them the importance of safe and sustainable housing.
Two of the highlights of the day were the chance to try their hand at bricklaying – with guidance from professional bricklayer and Site Manager Andrew Musgrave – and safely climbing into the driver’s seat of a motionless digger, much to the delight of the students. while the safety briefing gave them an understanding of the importance of safety around an operational plant.
The event, a joint initiative between CCHA and Thomas Armstrong, was designed to bring the development closer to the local community and help children understand how homes are built and why affordable housing is vital.
Sarah Layzell, Assistant Head Teacher at Gosforth Primary School said: “The children had a fantastic time and haven’t stopped talking about it. It was a brilliant way for them to learn outside the classroom and understand the real-life work going on in their village. A big thank you to Castles & Coasts and Thomas Armstrong for such a fun and educational day.”
Robert Copeland, Construction Director at Thomas Armstrong said: “We were thrilled to host the pupils and hope the visit helped spark curiosity about the world of construction and the value of community-focused housing projects.”
Andrew Wilkinson, Land and Acquisition Manager at CCHA said: “It was great to welcome Gosforth Primary on site. Our contractors, Thomas Armstrong, really went the extra mile to make this a brilliant experience and it was great to see how enthusiastic the pupils were when trying their hands at bricklaying.”
Summerscales is a housing development led by Castles & Coasts Housing Association in the Lake District village of Gosforth, Cumbria. The scheme is the first major construction in the area for over twenty years and will provide 20 mixed tenure homes for people that live and work in the local area, helping address local housing need.
