Charitable focus from students at Moreton Morrell College

A charity that supports children suffering from life-threatening illnesses will benefit from the craftsmanship of carpentry students at Moreton Morrell College.

Level 1 carpentry and joinery students have joined forces with site carpentry Level 2 and 3 learners to create an array of items including coasters, chopping boards, tea light holders and tables. These painstakingly-crafted products will be sold or raffled off at the college’s annual Lambing and Animals Weekend, which is held at Nether Moreton Farm and last year attracted more than 4000 visitors.

Last year students took £800 worth of orders over the weekend and sold raffle tickets to raise money for Oxfam’s Humanitarian Appeal.

Students will man a stall at the event on Saturday, March 25th and Sunday, March 26th where 40% of the money raised from items sold will be donated to Molly Ollys.

The Warwick-based charity was set up 11 years ago by Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw after their eight-year-old daughter Molly died from kidney cancer. Molly Ollys emotionally supports UK children aged up to 18 who have a lifethreatening illness.

John Billings, carpentry and joinery lecturer at Moreton Morrell College, has seen students embrace the project across the board. He said: “Each year as part of their personal development, the full-time learners choose a charity, to help promote being a good citizen and raise money for that charity.

“This year Molly Ollys was chosen after hearing about the amazing work they do. Everything we are making is on the basis of 60 % of the sale will go towards materials and the rest be donated to charity.

“It really helps students with learning how to price materials and planning labour schedules.”

It was during this process where it was decided that a table that had taken a group of students more than 40 hours of labour to create would not be sold.

John explained: “With the hours we put in and the cost that would incur, it was decided by the students that they couldn’t make the money back so instead they decided that it would be raffled off.

“It has helped them with their curriculum and to definitely develop a lot quicker, they’re keen to progress and use things like some power tools that previously they were maybe not ready to do.”

“What’s been really great is seeing a new member of staff Ollie Adams, who is an instructor/technician in carpentry and joinery, come straight in from industry and bring his skills into the workshop.”

Jennie Ludford, from Mollys Ollys, visited students at Moreton Morrell College to witness their craftmanship first hand.

She said: “It was fabulous to visit the college and see the talented construction apprentices in action.

“They have made a lovely table out of timber and resin materials which is being raffled off to raise funds for Molly Ollys. We are very grateful to the team for supporting us and I was pleased to be able to explain to the apprentices about the work that we do at the charity and to play a video of three children with life-threatening illnesses that we have helped.

“Molly Ollys can only keep on emotionally supporting children and their families through the generous donations and fundraising efforts of individuals and organisations like Moreton Morrell College.” www.wcg.ac.uk/carpentry www.mollyolly.co.uk

To find out more about the carpentry courses, check out the WCGwebsite.

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