News
Students from Skillway visit Ockford Ridge
Collaboration and community are at the heart of the new affordable home development at Ockford Ridge, as the Mayor of Waverley and students from local education charity, Skillway, demonstrated this week.
The development in Godalming, delivered for Waverley Borough Council by leading local housebuilder and community creator, Thakeham, is the third phase of regeneration of Ockford Ridge that Waverley Borough Council has worked with the housebuilder on, which has resulted in 84 new homes in total.
This phase is due to be completed this autumn and will provide 30 net zero carbon homes for the local community.
Sarah Crush, Social Value Manager at Thakeham, said: “As a business, we are committed to ensuring we help build future generations, to equip them with the skills to enjoy a fulfilling career in the construction industry. Skillway promotes these vital skills and we are pleased to support its mission through charitable funding across the last four years as well as practical site visits for students. We are delighted to see the work they have produced through opportunities the Ockford Ridge development has facilitated.”
Following a tour of the scheme, the Mayor was joined by Skillway students to unveil examples of their workmanship that will sit in place near the site at Eashing Cemetery Community Gardens. A new bench built by students and metal tree plaques for the newly planted local community orchards have been installed, demonstrating cross-community linkages at this important rewilding project.
Skillway General Manager, Greg Bleach, said: “We strive to create opportunities for young people, aiming to instill a work ethic and demonstrate that there are a variety of paths in life. Many of our students go on to college or work with renewed confidence in their skills and we’re very proud of their recent work within our local community.”
Founded in 1997 to support young people in the community, Skillway, a Godalming based charity, provides opportunities to students often no longer engaged in education or struggling with confidence and anxiety. It works on a program of projects to build up skills the students, typically from 13 years old upwards can carry forward, such as carpentry and joinery, conservation crafts and stonework.
