worcester school revitalised following product donation

New College Worcester, based on Whittington Road, is a school and college for young people aged 11 to 19 who are blind or vision impaired, with the building materials being supplied by various partners, including leading provider, Aggregate Industries.

Following a site visit and consultation with school faculty members, several critical infrastructure improvements were identified to enhance safety and accessibility across the school grounds. They recognised significant challenges faced by newer students who struggle to concentrate amid the noise and traffic, with the team contacting the school to see how they could help improve conditions for training on-site.

Much of the school’s former infrastructure, including worn-down crossing points and uneven surfaces, had become unsuitable for the students’ needs. Over 460 hours were committed to the project over the course of four days, with the total amount of materials donated being worth £14,000.

In response, the various teams clubbed together and committed to carrying out a range of
upgrades, including:

● Installing eight dropped crossings with block tactiles
● Laying 160sqm of asphalt in place of uneven slabs
● Updating 17 sets of tactiles areas
● Remarking zebra crossings, along with other lining works
● Installing brand new signage, cones and barriers
● Painting handrails, cutting back hedges and cleaning gullies.

These improvements will ensure that the students have a safe, quiet, and comfortable area to practise their skills, while helping them navigate the real-world challenges they face.

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Rachel Perks, Principal of New College Worcester, is grateful for the new lease of life that each supplier has helped to facilitate on the premises. “We have been truly overwhelmed by the generosity, both in terms of human hours and the materials that have been donated over the past few months to transform our spaces. It is so important that our students, who are all blind or vision impaired, can safely and independently travel around the campus and this work will have a significant impact.

“Experiencing different examples of tactile surfaces found out in the community, students can safely become familiar with what they will find beneath their feet when they are out and about. The results have exceeded all our expectations – thank you so much to all involved!”

The project was completed by a number of supply chain partners, including TMP Solutions, Alpha Aggregates, Headway Traffic Management and Ringway. This emphasises the passion behind the project, with each party offering their unique expertise and leveraging resources to deliver a successful initiative.

Stuart Jupp, Project Manager at Aggregate Industries, was one of the individuals providing the driving force behind the collaboration on behalf of Aggregate Industries. "We take great pride in supporting projects that make a real difference. When I learned about the challenges the school was facing, I knew we could help. By improving their on-site infrastructure, we’re not only creating a safer environment for students to train but also supporting their long-term independence. It’s about giving them the right tools to build their confidence and navigate life with ease.”

Ian Dean, Managing Director for the Concrete Products Division at Aggregate Industries, added, “As a company, we’re committed to helping communities. For example, in 2024 so far, we’re donated over £320k worth of products and nearly 3,000 volunteer hours for charities and community initiatives. New College Worcester is just one of the projects that align with these goals.”