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ERIC chicken house project wins construction industry award

Wednesday, 20 December 2017

A chicken house built from recycled materials by adults with learning difficulties has won a prize in a community initiative run by the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme (CCS). 

Service users at the Department of Health and Social Care’s Eastcliffe Resource Industrial Centre (ERIC) undertook the project with support from Cedar Developments. 

The company, which is in the process of building a new £5 million adult day service facility on the Noble’s Hospital site adjacent to ERIC, approached staff to see if they would like to be entered in the CCS’s Big Build project, which is aimed at encouraging firms to engage with communities by asking them to design and build a structure out of recyclable materials. 

Once a decision was made to build a chicken house, materials used on the construction site, such as plywood, batten and pallets, were then provided to construct Feather Cottage, which features an array of furniture and a thatched roof. 

As registered members of the CCS, Cedar Developments entered ERIC in the Big Build competition, and were delighted to hear they were selected as one of three winners from across the British Isles earlier this month. 

Feedback on their winning entry commended the level of detail, both inside and outside the cottage: ‘The judges particularly enjoyed the table and chairs as well as the tiny painted picture. They also praised the fact that the cottage had a long-term use and would not just be discarded once the competition was finished. It really is a brilliant job done by all!’ 

A ceremony was held this week at ERIC, where Alex Burnett and Francis Johnson from Cedar were joined by Big Build mascot Honor Goodsite to present the team with their prize – a £100 Amazon voucher. 

Mr Burnett said: ‘Cedar is proud to have played a part in the ERIC team winning this award, but all the credit must go with the service users and staff who made it happen. The materials we supplied have been put to excellent use and the chickens now have a fantastic new home! 

‘The CCS is an important organisation which encourages firms to work with communities and enhance the environment, and we will certainly be looking to work with other groups in the future.’ 

Marie Spencer, senior day support worker, said: ‘Cedar are a fantastic company to work with, a credit to the construction industry, and we are grateful to them for helping ERIC achieve this success as well as recognising inclusion and ownership for the people who will use the new day centre. 

‘The company has forged a very positive and supportive relationship with service users in a number of ways – allowing some the opportunity to help to lay foundation stones and have their artwork proudly displayed, as well as employing David Oakes as a labourer on the site for three days a week.’

Service users at eastcliffe resource centre

Service users at Eastcliffe Resource Industrial Centre with Feather Cottage, which has won the Considerate Constructors' Scheme Big Build competition, alongside day support worker Caroline O'Connor, Francis Johnson and Alex Burnett from Cedar Developments and Big Build mascot Honor Goodsite.

senior support worker collects prize

Senior day support worker Marie Spencer collects the team's prize of a £100 Amazon voucher from Big Build mascot Honor Goodsite.

Feather cottage, the chicken house

Feather Cottage, a chicken house made by service users from recyclable materials donated by Cedar Developments, which is in the process of building a new £5 million adult day service facility on the Noble's Hospital site adjacent to ERIC.

new day centre

The new £5 million adult day centre being built by Cedar Developments, with the ERIC facility in the background.

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