Charity

Chamwell Centre in Gloucester receives £20,000 boost from county housebuilder

- 14 Apr 20

A charity for disabled children and adults in Gloucester has been presented with a donation of more than £20,000 from housebuilder Bovis Homes.

The Chamwell Centre will be a much-needed facility built in the grounds of The Milestone Special School in Longlevens, which will include a large hydrotherapy pool, plus therapy, sensory and sports equipment.

The centre is working to replace a 40-year-old hydrotherapy pool in addition to providing a café and all-ability sports, athletics, and social events for the school. Bovis Homes has now raised £40,000 towards the project.

Bovis Homes’ Western region – part of the newly formed Vistry Group – hosted a Contractors’ Ball, for the second year in a row, which included an auction with donated items as well as a tombola, to raise money for the centre, along with other fundraising activities.

Dr Marie Owen, chair of the Chamwell Centre Charity Trustees, said: “The Chamwell Centre Charity was thrilled to be nominated, for the second year running, to be sponsored by the Bovis Homes Western Region Contractors’ Ball.

“This year's donation of £20,250 brings the total donated by the house builder up to around £40,000, which will make a huge difference to the services we are able to offer, both to the children of the Milestone School, who will use the centre during school time, and to the many people with additional needs from the Gloucestershire Community, who will benefit at all other times.

“To have the support of a company such as Bovis Homes is a huge benefit to Chamwell and the many people who will depend on it. Sadly, the opening, which was planned for Summer 2020 will now be delayed, as work on the site has had to be suspended for the Covid-19 epidemic, but thanks to the support of generous benefactors such as Bovis Homes, it will open to great celebration, as soon as work can be completed.

“Our sincere thanks to all at Bovis Homes who have contributed so generously.”

The Chamwell Centre Charity has just raised the full £5.1 million needed to construct the centre and is now turning its attention to delivering services, which will include hydrotherapy in its state-of-the-art pool, three-storey accessible soft play, rebound therapy and climbing wall. It will have social and resource areas and a community cafe, which will specialise in giving work experience to young people with disability.

Bovis Homes regional sales director, Nicola Goldsmith added: “It was wonderful to present this donation to such a worthy cause. We know the funds will be put to great use and the centre is an amazing asset to the area and all who visit there.

“With many Bovis Homes developments in Gloucestershire, it was important to us to give back to the community and what better way to do it than by helping the inspiring Chamwell Centre.”

Bovis Homes’ previous year’s fundraising ball raised £15,000, so the most-recent event saw a significant increase in the amount raised, with auction items including an Apple watch, football tickets, golf clubs, and even a helicopter flying lesson.

During the event, guests were also treated to a performance by 16-year-old Ashleigh Turley, a former pupil of The Milestone School, the second largest special school in England with over 320 pupils.

Find out more about the Chamwell Centre at www.chamwellcentre.org.uk

Bovis Homes has many exciting developments in Gloucestershire including Oaklands in Hunts Grove, Millfields in Cam, The Avenue in Moreton-in-Marsh plus a new development coming soon to Twigworth. Find out more on the Bovis Homes website.