Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) have been working alongside Blackpool & the Fylde College and our partnering contractors, Bambers, to transform the former Mereside library into a spacious new two bedroom flat.
Bambers have been working alongside college students to provide supervised, hands-on training in plastering, painting and decorating, joinery and electrical work. The collaboration is giving students vital on-site experience and a chance to see their classroom skills brought to life in a meaningful way.
Once complete, the flat will become a much-needed new home for a local resident from Blackpool Council’s housing register.
Local MP Chris Webb recently visited the site to meet students and talk about the project. During his visit, he observed students hard at work and later joined Summer Duffy and Stanley Shoulder – both painting and decorating students – for a chat in the garden.
Summer shared her aspirations with the MP. She said:
“In my first year I studied multi-skills and found that I loved painting and decorating. I can genuinely see myself doing it for the rest of my life.
“My ambition is to have my own women’s only painting and decorating business – allowing female clients to feel safe with a tradesperson in their home, and showing people that trades like this don’t have to be done by men.
“This project has been so good because usually we’re in a classroom. Bambers have been so supportive and we’ve learnt so much. It’s a nice feeling to work on a flat that someone will actually get to enjoy and do some good in the community.”
Chris Webb MP said:
“Meeting students like Summer has been incredibly inspiring – she’s got the talent, the vision, and the determination to make a real impact in a field that’s traditionally been male-dominated. I’ll be staying in touch with her to see how her business idea develops because she represents exactly the kind of ambition we should be nurturing.
“This project is about giving young people in Blackpool the opportunities they deserve to develop real skills and shape their future and I hope to see a lot more of this in Blackpool. The government has pledged to train a new generation of construction workers to help build 1.5 million homes and this partnership shows how that ambition can be realised locally. It proves that, with the right support, we can deliver both the homes we need and the skilled workforce to build them.
“I’m proud to see this property being returned to social housing. I hope it soon becomes a safe and comfortable home for someone who really needs it – and a lasting symbol of what we can achieve when we invest in people and places together.”
Maggie Cornall, Director of Operations at Blackpool Coastal Housing, explained how the idea was born:
“I was keen to create a new residential property out of the space, but it was in a conversation with Jon Tomkinson at the College where the idea of involving students came together. With careful planning and support from Bambers, who have long been trusted partners of BCH, we made it happen – and it’s been a success.”
Jon Tomkinson, Assistant Principal at Blackpool & the Fylde College, added:
“This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain real, hands-on experience whilst contributing to something meaningful in their own community. We’re proud to be part of a partnership that not only supports education but also breathes new life into local spaces.”
