Charity

Eccleshall student to teach in Africa thanks to housebuilder’s support

- 11 Oct 18

An adventurous college student from Eccleshall is celebrating after receiving support from the housebuilder constructing her aunt’s new home.

Grace Hunt, 17, has been given £600 by Bovis Homes, to help her take part in a two-week immersion trip to Sierra Leone, where she will teach subjects including English and Maths to school pupils.

Meanwhile her aunt Mandy is set to move from the Middle East, where she has lived for around 15 years, to Bovis Homes’ Sancerre Grange location in the town, to be closer to her family.

Grace, from Stone Road, who attends St Joseph's College in Trent Vale and has previously helped teach at a local primary school, will take football shirts with her as gifts – thanks in part to her dad, the Under 15s coach at Eccleshall Eagles Junior Football Club.

Grace said: “I sent the request out to Bovis Homes and wasn’t expecting anything back from it, so I was really shocked – and screamed – when I got a response.

“I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m looking forward to immersing myself into the culture and I enjoy teaching, although the pupils will be much older this time.

“It will be great to take football shirts out with me. We heard how much the school and its pupils love football and follow the Premier League. My brother collects a lot of shirts and my dad has asked around at the club, who have been really supportive.”

Grace is due to visit the West African country in February next year and Bovis Homes’ contribution means she has now raised the £1,600 cost to go.

The teenager is also over the moon that her aunt is moving close by into a four-bedroom Montpellier house, which is due to be built by December.

Mandy said: “It will be so great to live near family again. We really like the layout of the Montpellier and its open-plan feel. The quality and size of the houses at Sancerre Grange are very impressive and there is a lot of green space around too.

“The Bovis Homes team has been excellent throughout the process - the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable.”

Rachael Snookes, Bovis Homes’ sales advisor at Sancerre Grange, said she was delighted that Mandy was moving in at the location and thrilled to give Grace the cheque that will see her on the plane to Sierra Leone.

“We wish Grace the very best on her trip to Sierra Leone, where she will no doubt make a big impact to school pupils and the local community there,” she said. “We’re also very much looking forward to welcoming Mandy to Sancerre Grange, which is proving very popular with local buyers and those moving from further afield like Mandy!”