Scores of children who sleep on sofas or on the floor helped by ‘bed-building’ volunteers in Thanet

ByEd

Nov 14, 2022

More than 140 volunteers took part in the Big Bed Build project at Discovery Park

More than 140 volunteers recruited from businesses at Discovery Park recently took part in the Big Bed Build project to support a local Thanet charity and the families it helps.

The project was led by Cummins Inc, for its Community Partner Thanet Iceberg, a charity that works with individuals and households to combat the causes of poverty and tackling its symptoms.

90 more beds

On the day, the volunteers were set the task of playing their part in helping the estimated 300 children who currently have to sleep on sofas or the floor at night. The target for the day was to make the next batch of 90 beds as part of the Big Bed Build project.

The volunteers were recruited from 14 firms and Discovery Park donated the space for the team to work in and assemble and paint the wooden beds during six hours at the science and innovation park near Sandwich.

*Cummins team (L-R): Cummins staff Ya-Wen Chang, Andy Underwood, Dave Fright, Richard Lee, Andrew Stockbridge at the Big Bed Build.*

Andy Underwood, Director at Cummins, said: “After supporting the local community over the years, we know only too well that many families across Thanet and East Kent are struggling, and the current cost of living crisis is making it even harder. It’s been great to work alongside other businesses at Discovery Park and support the important work of Thanet Iceberg.”

Seven of the volunteers were refugees from Cummins’ community partner, the Kent Refugee Action Network, who came along to help build the beds.

Alexander Roarke of Thanet Iceberg said: “There is no easy answer for the problem in our region, but when 140 people get together to support projects like this it is a great step in the right direction to making the future a brighter place for the people of Thanet.”