Charity

Local housebuilder’s charity ball raises £20k for Gloucester’s Chamwell Centre

- 12 Dec 19

Bovis Homes’ Contractors’ Charity Ball, which took place at the Pittville Pump Rooms in Cheltenham, has raised a whopping £20,256.39 for the Chamwell Centre in Gloucester.

The Chamwell Centre will be a much-needed facility built in the grounds of The Milestone Special School in Gloucester, supporting disabled children and adults.

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 contractors donated auction items to the ball. Attendees were then able to bid on the items during an auction hosted by local actor Mark Kempner, as well as purchase tickets for a tombola.

Last year the ball raised £15,000, so this year’s 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.

Mike Etheridge, from Mike Etheridge Construction, was particularly pleased as he was able to secure the services of Bovis Homes managing director Supriya Ray and commercial director, Jeremy Cook, as labourers for a day as part of the auction, donating £2,300 for their services.

“It was a wonderful event,” said Mike. “Not only did we all have a great time, but we were able to raise a huge amount for a worthy cause. I look forward to seeing Sup and Jeremy out on site soon!”

During the evening, 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.

Bovis Homes managing director Supriya Ray and Helen Ray
Supriya said: “The Contractors’ Charity Ball is a very important event in our calendar. Not only is it a great opportunity to engage positively with our supply chain, but we also have the chance to make a difference to the Chamwell Centre and all the people who will benefit from this amazing facility.”

Dr Marie Owen, chair of the Chamwell Centre Charity Trustees, added: “The Chamwell Centre Charity is delighted to have been sponsored by Bovis Homes over the past two years. Not only have they generously donated this amazing sum, raised at their Charity Ball, but they have become truly involved in this exciting and innovative project, which provides facilities not only for pupils of The Milestone Special School in school hours, but for all those people with disabilities in Gloucestershire, who need such resources in evenings, weekends and holidays.

“Thanks to the generosity of sponsors such as Bovis Homes, we have raised the £5.1 million needed to complete the building, which will open to the public in summer 2020. We are truly grateful to Bovis Homes for their generous support and hope that we can continue our close relationship into the future.”

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

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