Ashford Borough Council donates £10,000 for social value after International House roofing fixes

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has donated £10,000 to two charities as part of the social value element of the council’s contract to fix the roof at International House. 

The old roof was leaking periodically, so as part of the council’s move to International House, ABC appointed Acclaim as Principal Contractor to undertake essential roofing works to the main tower block before the relocation. 

To do this, Acclaim set up access scaffolding and material hoists to raise and temporarily reposition the roof mounted mechanical and electrical equipment before getting to work. 

The result is an advanced Bauder waterproofing system for the roof, complete with enhanced insulation, while the upgraded roof also has a 30-year warranty and is fully compliant with all regulations. 

From a social value perspective, £2,000 has gone to the Lord Whiskey Charity, who provides care and re-homing for animals in need, while the remaining £8,000 has gone to the Bright City Church.

The Lord Whiskey Charity are putting the money towards hay for the horses during the winter period, while the Bright City Church are making use of their funds by fixing the church roof. 

Representatives from both the Lord Whiskey Charity and the Bright City Church attended The Mayor’s Parlour at International House for afternoon tea, with Margaret and Alexander Todd (Lord Whiskey Charity) and Ian Fowkes (Bright City Church) discussing their plans with the Mayor.

“‘Due to the height of the tower block and the existing electrical plant located on the roof, our team worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure the works were completed on time and within budget, whilst adhering to the highest standards of safety and quality,” Acclaim Contracts Director Craig La-Thangue, said. “We are pleased to provide a new roof for the Council, whist delivering a positive local impact supporting Ashford community works and the animal sanctuary.”

“We are delighted with both the improvements made to the International House roof and the nature of the social value donations,” said Cllr Simon Betty, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Property and Investment at Ashford Borough Council. “The money is going towards some fantastic causes and we’re looking forward to seeing how that money makes an impact within our borough.”