A new crèche facility has finally been completed at the Calthorpe Project after being awarded £50,000 through Wates Giving, a charitable programme run by the Wates family, owners of the Wates Group.

The Calthorpe Project is a purpose-built community centre providing child care, training, a play area for children and community activities for local residents in Kings Cross. The early years drop in facility is one of the project’s most popular services, helping parents in the King’s Cross area to undertake training with Westminster Kingsway College or return to work by providing vital free childcare through Action for Employment.

An expansion of the crèche was planned for 2008; however problems with funding saw the work stalled until £132,000 could be found to finish the crèche interior but the much needed funding from the Wates Giving programme has seen the works finally completed.


Henry Mountain, an Assistant Surveyor at Wates Living Space, the affordable housing division of the Wates Group took on the project management for the work and through using key members of the supply chain reduced construction costs by more than 60% to see the crèche finally completed.

Louise Gates from the Calthorpe Project said: "The new crèche facilities will double the space we have available for local parents of the under fives, helping them to go out and look for opportunities to learn new skills and find work.

"It has also allowed us to radically improve our community garden, which provides a valuable space for families to meet and play safely together.

"We've found that everyone who uses the centre gets something different from it, but whether it’s childcare, the chance to learn about the environment or simply giving people the chance to meet other people within their community, it makes a massive difference to hundreds of lives each year."

Mr Mountain said: "We are delighted to have been able to help the Calthorpe Project complete this expansion project.

"The crèche will provide an invaluable facility for parents in the area, and we’re thrilled that we could use our team’s expertise and supply chain to help the project continue its valuable work within the community."

(CD/GK)