15th August 2017
Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery students at South Devon College have completed a rebuild of the vandalised Thatcher Pines Shelter at Ilsham. Torbay MP Kevin Foster, alongside local councillors and community leaders, attended a formal handover of the finished shelter with College staff and students in attendance.
The historic shelter was destroyed in an arson attack last October and due to a shortage of resources, Torbay Council were deterred from replacing it. The College offered to volunteer their skills following a local campaign led by the Herald Express to get the shelter rebuilt.
Parts of the structure was assembled at the Bradley Lane campus in Newton Abbot and then constructed onsite, the building materials were sponsored by the local community. Student Tom Fletcher said, “Considering the amount we’ve done with the time we’ve had I’m really impressed with what we’ve managed to achieve. Using a full range of skills has been a great experience and I feel proud thinking that people in the community will be using this shelter for many years to come – one day hope to bring my children here to show them what we built.”
James King, Carpentry and Joinery Lecturer at South Devon College said, “The students were keen to put their skills to good use and give something back to the community. Projects like this are very important for the students to gain onsite experience alongside their studies in the workshop. To gain practical experience will aid their problem solving skills and allow them to apply their customer service skills when dealing with, clients, architects and suppliers.”
For more information on construction courses at South Devon College please visit our website sdcdev or email [email protected]
Alternatively, come along to our next Open Evening on 6th September 2017, 5pm-8pm at our Vantage Point Campus, Long Road, Paignton, TQ4 7EJ.