Carpentry department also hands over £1500 after selling bird boxes and bug houses at the Suffolk Show.
The college has built a wishing well for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Construction staff and students created it at the Suffolk Show. They then transported it to the charity this week to their main HQ based on Foxhall Road.
It will be used as a permanent beacon of hope and tribute in the benevolent causes garden, where people will be able to donate money and make a wish.
In addition to this, the college carpentry team built bird boxes and bug houses at the Suffolk Show that were sold for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Thanks to this effort, a cheque was handed over to representatives from the hospice by Darren Chittock and his carpentry team, totalling £1511.46.
Mark Crisp is the head of construction at Suffolk New College. He said: “We have worked with St Elizabeth Hospice for many years, raising money for them by building items that we sold at Trinity Park – so we thought it would be nice to do something different.
“Therefore, we thought a wishing well would fit nicely in their garden. The carpenters built the roof, and the bricklayers made the well.”
This project has an extra resonance for Mark, whose mother was looked after by the hospice two years ago. He continued: “My mum was looked after here and passed away peacefully. The staff are and were absolutely incredible. The job they do is phenomenal. I can’t thank them enough.”
Martin Cribb is a brickwork instructor at Suffolk New College. Martin’s father was also supported by St Elizabeth Hospice ten years ago. Martin said, “The care for my dad was fantastic. The students (in terms of building the well) have been amazing.”
Ned Coles, 18, from Stowmarket, is a learner who is studying on a level two bricklaying apprenticeship with the college whilst working for Greig and Mills Brickwork.
Ned said: “It’s great to have the opportunity to do something like this. It’s a lasting memento from the college that I have worked on – that will be here for years to come. It’s nice to give something back.”
Nathan Berry, 19, from Framlingham, who studies at Suffolk New College and works for LJC Building Services, also helped out with this project.
Chloe Lock is a St Elizabeth Hospice community fundraiser. She said: “I think this is really special for those at the hospice – both patients, staff and visitors. It’s a lovely, striking piece. Suffolk New College have been fantastic. Both with the donation of £1500.00 and the wishing well and other projects – they have been a really great support.”
In terms of raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice at the Suffolk Show, carpentry and joinery lecturer Darren Chittock said: “This is the third year in a row that we have done this, and in that time we have raised over £3000.00 for the charity. I’m really proud. It’s a big effort from the staff and students. It’s been fantastic. We’d love to continue to support them in the future.”
Tina Dorey, from Ipswich, is a bench joinery student at the college and helped make bird boxes. Tina said, “It was lovely for all of us to come together and work on this.”
Liam Airey, 17, from Ipswich. Liam said, “We beat last year’s total. Some of my family work for the hospice, so it’s nice to know that we are helping them and others.”