British Airways Carbon Fund helped with the refurbishment of former janitor’s house in Renfrewshire town
LONDON, UK, 2018-Sep-14 — /Travel PR News/ — A former janitor’s house, which had lain empty and derelict for seven years, has undergone a six-figure refurbishment and is now providing much needed community space in a Renfrewshire town, thanks partly to British Airways.
The building, which provides after school care and is operated by the social enterprise KLAS Care, has become the hub for a growing number of community groups in the East Fulton area of Linwood.
Lesley Compston, who started KLAS Care in 2010 with another Linwood mum, Kirsty McKenzie, to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable after school care in the area, Hraised £300,000 from public and private sector sources to complete the project, which is housed in the former janitor’s house in the grounds of East Fulton Primary School, Linwood.
The installation of the building’s energy efficient lighting, heating, hot water system and highly rated insulation was made possible by a £12,000 funding package from the British Airways Carbon Fund, which allows the airline’s customers to make a donation to low carbon community initiatives throughout the UK when they purchase flights online.
The money from the fund is then passed by British Airways to UK Charity Pure Leapfrog for allocation to community-based projects throughout the UK and Africa.
A further donation of £5,000 from the British Airways Carbon Fund in the next funding round will see the installation of solar panels on the building, further reducing energy costs and helping the social enterprise initiative become even more financially viable, benefitting the community as a whole.
KLAS Care worked closely with Renfrewshire Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP), an energy charity that helps residents and community-based organisations to save energy, and money, by providing free, impartial advice on a range of matters, including heating and insulation.
LEAP was instrumental in securing the financial contribution from the British Airways Carbon Fund.
The East Fulton project is the first in Scotland to benefit from funding from the British Airways Carbon Fund.
Leigh Hudson, Sustainable Fuels Manager at British Airways, said; “We are delighted to be a part of this important community initiative in Linwood, an area close to one of our most important operating UK bases, Glasgow Airport.”
“We are committed to promoting the use of sustainable technology across the UK. The Carbon Fund is just one strand of our environmental strategy. We are committed to playing our part in achieving sustainable growth in, and setting the standard for, sustainable flying.”
Lesley Compston, who has a practical and academic background in childcare, said; “We have had fantastic support from all our funders, both in the public and private sectors, who have helped bring the project to fruition.”
“Not only will the new facility enable KLAS Care to significantly expand affordable child care in the area, the main purpose of our social enterprise efforts, but it has already become a focus for community activity, from parent groups to cycling initiatives and other activities involving members of the community from the youngest to the oldest.
“Our aim is to provide a facility not only for children, but to stimulate community activity in a setting in which they feel safe and happy.”
Lesley added, “The new facility is really is an example of the saying ‘build it and they will come’”.
Adele Fraser, Chief Executive of Linstone Housing Association, who will formally open the new premises, said: “I am honoured to be asked to formally open this wonderful new facility.
“KLAS Care provides valuable local child care for the people of Linwood and Johnstone and this new centre builds on the fantastic work Lesley and Kirsty have done over many years. They are both truly community focussed.”
“Lesley and Kirsty were key to the building of a fantastic new play area in Linwood and their commitment to the community, which they carry out with professionalism and enthusiasm, is further demonstrated by this wonderful facility in East Fulton.”
“It has already become a catalyst for community activity catering for a range of interests across ages, and I congratulate them on their hard work and dedication in bringing the project to fruition.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
British Airways Carbon Fund
- British Airways gives all customer donations to the BA Carbon Trust Fund to Pure Leapfrog (Registered Charity Number 1112249).
- Pure Leapfrog actively seeks out community-based projects across the UK and in Africa providing low carbon technologies such as solar panels, small wind turbines, energy efficient lighting and heating and insulation.
- Pure Leapfrog measures the carbon saving and other social benefits from these projects and ensures that they are correctly managed and suitable investments for British Airways Carbon Fund
Funding and support for the project came from a number of private and public sector organisations including:
- LEADER
- Social Investment Scotland
- Firstpost
- LaunchMe
- ASDA Community Capital Fund
Contact Details:
For more information please contact press.office@ba.com
Source: British Airways
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