More than just providing a building
We take pride in all of the developments that we help to create but for projects like the Fern Centre in Barnstaple it means more than just providing a building. The centre is the first time in North Devon that cancer patients have access to complimentary therapies and services for free under one roof.
North Devon's new cancer and wellbeing centre
Tasmin Andrew the centre manager told us:
"The Over and Above Fern Centre is North Devon's new cancer and wellbeing centre. We offer holistic care and therapies to patients diagnosed with cancer as well as support to their relatives and carers.
We also have three accommodation rooms here so that relatives of patients staying at North Devon District Hospital can stay close by to their loved ones."
The centre is for the people of North Devon and has come from the people of North Devon. Local fundraising contributed a large amount of the £1.5 million appeal to create the wellbeing centre." Tasmin continued:
"Before the Fern Centre was here, patients with cancer wouldn't have had access to the emotional or psychological support or the complimentary therapies locally without having to pay for it privately, the other option would have been for them to travel to other hospitals to access their support centres which would result in over an hour's trip for the majority of our patients. It now means that we're able to offer the support to our patients and their relatives and carers to allow them to get the tailored support they need face to face and close to home."
LABC Building Excellence Award nominee
The centre was delivered by the Pearce commercial team and was nominated for the Best Public Service or Educational Building in the South West LABC Building Excellence Awards.
The building was designed by David Wilson Partnership Architects and the finished development is everything and more according to Tasmin.
"The building is amazing, it's light and airy, it's modern, it's very homely as we didn't want it to be clinical so it's very relaxing for when people visit. Just thank you to Pearce Construction for your hard work in making the centre a reality for patients who desperately need the support."
"The building is amazing, it's light and airy, it's modern, it's very homely as we didn't want it to be clinical so it's very relaxing for when people visit. Just thank you to Pearce Construction for your hard work in making the centre a reality for patients who desperately need the support."
The Over and Above Hospital Charity appeal
In the summer of August 2019 we celebrated with a ‘Topping Out’ ceremony and raised funds towards the Over and Above Hospital Charity appeal for the new centre.
We were pleased to raise £370 taking us over our initial target. During the build local contractors and suppliers donated materials and time to the project with everyone wanting to support this amazing facticity for our community.
Our sustainability strategy helped us to successfully deliver:
Local economic benefits
The project delivered in excess of £2.1m of local economic benefits across the project, equating to £2.45 for every £1 spent.
Appenticeships
The project provided 1600 hours of apprenticeship opportunities.
Environmental consideration
Diverting 98% of waste away from landfills.
A local workforce
Using 100% local SME workforce.
