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Following a decade-long collaborative relationship, Marley has recently supported the latest construction development for Derby-based, children’s charity, Foundation Matters.
Like all charities, Foundation Matters has to ensure every penny raised delivers value for money. This is especially important when it comes to construction projects, which always need to be delivered on time and on budget.
Marley first started working with Foundation Matters over ten years ago, and in the intervening time, has continued to support the charity – which runs residential holiday camps for children – through technical design and innovative product solutions.
The latest project sees the two collaborating once more, as the charity embarks on an ambitious building programme to add much-needed accommodation blocks at its site in Stenson, near Derby.
The development showcases Marley’s Weatherboard range, which was recently certified by UL Solutions, a leading authority in applied safety science, following robust independent testing. This provides critical product credibility, so specifiers can select Marley’s Weatherboard solution with confidence, knowing its performance and safety credentials have been thoroughly examined.
Adding further choice for building projects, Weatherboard is also now available in a stylish new blue-grey colourway. This complements the existing choices of white, light grey, slate grey and black.
Delivering essential accommodation buildings
Foundation Matters provides an invaluable opportunity for children to get away and enjoy a range of low-cost holiday activities, such as orienteering, canoeing, archery and bush craft, in an outdoor setting.
However, as a result of its success, demand for the charity’s services has continued to rise – and so too has the number of volunteers needed to support its mission. To address this, founder Jem Hudson took the strategic decisions to extend the site’s current accommodation facilities and build four new staff blocks, which would future-proof the essential work the charity undertakes.
He says: “As the number of children attending our holiday camps has risen, we need more volunteers to help us provide a safe and stimulating experience. Our original building is no longer large enough to cope with demand. To make it as easy as possible for our volunteers to give their time, we needed to provide more on-site accommodation, and so we started looking at building additional facilities.”
Having worked with Marley since the construction of the site’s main building when it opened in 2014, Jem was keen to build on the relationship as planning for the first of the new four blocks got underway. He continues: “After speaking with Marley, they immediately helped us in a number of ways. They supported with the design specification solutions for the new blocks, which included the selection of Marley’s weatherboard solution to clad the exterior of the structure.
“I was impressed with the minimal maintenance requirements of the weatherboard, as well as its great looks. We had used log sidings on our buildings previously, but they have to be re-stained every year, which is both expensive and time consuming. Marley’s weatherboard removes this job for us and frees up valuable resources for other important areas.
“Marley also worked with us to maximise the budget we had for the build and provided a high quality, aesthetically pleasing solution that the charity could afford.”
As well as the grey weatherboard cladding used to adorn the exterior walls, the new block has also seen the installation of 199m2 Smooth Grey Edgemere concrete slate tiles on the roofscape. Providing a complementary visual appeal that sits perfectly with the surrounding landscape, part of the project planning process included Marley suppling Edgemere tile samples to ensure that the grey specification would match the existing roofing colour on the original building.
As part of its holistic support, Marley also recommended MKM Derby as the roofing contractors and the project was completed on time and within budget.
Future plans
After being so impressed with the benefits delivered by the weatherboard cladding, and the aesthetics of the Edgemere tiles, Jem now plans to use the same specifications on three new accommodation blocks, which will be constructed when budgets allow.
“I hope to eventually replace the sides on the main building, and Marley’s weatherboard is an affordable and high-performing solution, which we will specify for the next three new blocks, as well as for our original building when we have the opportunity. It is durable and weatherproof and is ideal for the rural setting of the holiday camp. When installed, it looks really impressive, and the fact we do not then have to pay attention to it from a maintenance perspective is extremely beneficial for us.”
Charities need the support of companies, such as Marley, to help provide the facilities they require to help make a practical difference, something Jem Hudson is well aware of.
He concludes: “I have had a relationship with Marley for over a decade now, and the new accommodation block is the latest in a long line of successful projects we have worked on together. Their roof tile and cladding offering is great, delivering affordable and long-lasting solutions.
“Together with the design, supply chain and technical support we have enjoyed, it makes for a great collaborative effort. Everyone is delighted with the end result, and we look forward to commencing work on the other new blocks when we are financially able to.”
