Students renovate dilapidated day centre as new £4m substitute is built

COLEG CAMBRIA students are renovating a dilapidated community centre while a new £4million adult day care facility is being built

Construction trainees have been busy painting fences and benches, plastering walls, tidying the gardens and carrying out maintenance duties at Glanrafon Adult Day Care Centre in Queensferry.

Up to 50 people use the complex every day, but it is in a state of disrepair and will close next summer to be replaced by a modern single-storey facility nearby.

Wirral-based Kier, a leading infrastructure services, buildings and developments and housing group, is building the new centre – to be called Hwb Cyfle – and joined the students in improving the current site while visitors wait for it to be completed.

Sheryl Moore, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager for Kier in North West, praised the Cambria cohort for their support.

“We have worked with Coleg Cambria for many years on numerous projects and always try to give back to the local community,” she said.

“That could be through charity, traineeships, work placements or jobs, helping the students to sharpen their construction skills and gain valuable experience.

“They have been a huge help in bringing this centre back to life and I’m sure will be joining us for traineeships on-site at the new development, which will be a natural progression for them.”

As part of the college’s Traineeship Construction Academy, students have been developing their basic building skills on a series of projects across the region – including improvements to the clubhouse and grounds at Ruthin Football Club – prior to work experience in February with prospective employers in the region.

Samantha Moore, Employability Mentor at Coleg Cambria, said industry collaboration works in many positive ways and is attracting young people to apply for courses at Deeside and Wrexham.

“This is one of several partnerships we have with housing developers and construction companies,” said Samantha.

“These can lead to work placements and even jobs with some of the leading companies in this sector, as well as supporting the community, as we are here today.

“There is a good mix of learners who have never done anything like this before, from painting to plastering and carpentry, learning new skills and developing an interest in pursuing a career in the trades. This is a great opportunity for them and we thank Kier for its support.”

Jordan Smith, Regional Manager for HFT, which delivers and develops day and work opportunities for adults with a learning disability in Flintshire, added: “We will be moving into the new centre in June but wanted to make this site as nice as possible for our visitors before that happens.

“This has been a day care centre for 25 years and needed vital maintenance and an overhaul, so we are very grateful to Coleg Cambria and Kier for helping us – the students have done a brilliant job.