Housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes has raised £186,000 for The Hive Thanet over the course of its 18-month partnership with the community group.
Founded in 2024, The Hive Thanet is the UK’s first national centre providing training, recreational, social and learning support for children, young people and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The organisation also supports family members and carers.
Barratt David Wilson Homes’ substantial donations have enhanced the organisation’s ability to provide inclusive outdoor learning, sensory engagement, wellbeing activities and accessible sport for their community. The new outdoor facilities include two learning spaces, a large horticultural area, a sports facility, a forest school area, a trim trail and a nature walk/wheel.
The housebuilder’s support has also facilitated two years’ funding for the organisation’s Trainee Programme. Known as ‘The Hive Traineeship’, the service offers a wide range of bespoke activities to develop social, life and employability skills, all aimed at building independence.
Throughout the partnership, Barratt David Wilson Kent took part in numerous fundraising activities, including a Go Karting event, Golf Day, Gala Dinner, Charity Ball and padel and football tournaments. Last summer, the housebuilder also contributed two weeks of volunteering at The Hive. Working alongside Kingsheath Construction, Barratt David Wilson Kent built two outdoor log cabins from start to finish. These vital additions to the charity’s facilities are now used as all-weather outdoor learning classrooms equipped with step-free access to the main building and electricity throughout.
Diarmuid Molloy, Director of Philanthropy at The Hive Thanet, commented: “Barratt David Wilson Kent’s donations have been invaluable in helping us develop The Hive into a more accessible, practical and inspiring site for our community. We are hugely grateful for all the help and the funds that have been raised, which will make a significant difference to the children, young people and adults we support.”
William Walsh, Managing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, added: “As our partnership comes to an end, it’s fantastic to see the transformation that The Hive Thanet has undergone over the last 18 months. From new outdoor facilities to funding for the Trainee Programme, we wanted to make as much of a difference as possible across the organisation. It has been a pleasure to support The Hive, whose role in the local community cannot be understated.”
