Students from Tresham College have completed a community refurbishment project with Corby and District Model Railway Society.

They gained valuable real-world experience while helping to improve facilities for the society’s members and visitors.

The project came about after Corby and District Model Railway Society approached the College seeking support to refurbish its reception area and improve the functionality of its facilities. The work included redecorating walls and doors, constructing a new mobile service desk, creating a new doorway in an existing wall, and re-routing a water pipe to provide a permanent hot water supply to another part of the kitchen area.

student repainting door frame

A team of seven students from Tresham College’s Construction and Building Services courses took part in the project, including three plumbing students, three decorating students and one carpentry student. Together, they contributed approximately 300 hours of work to complete the transformation.

The newly refurbished reception area provides a brighter, more welcoming environment for visitors and members. The bespoke service desk has been designed on wheels, allowing it to be moved as required to maximise available space while also offering additional storage and a more professional appearance.

Neil Dellar, Multi-Trades Lecturer at Tresham College, said:

“The students really benefited from this community project by gaining hands-on work experience in a realistic working environment. They had to manage their work around the everyday activities of the society, solve real-life challenges and work collaboratively as a team. These are exactly the kinds of experiences that help prepare them for successful careers in the construction industry.”

A student involved in the project said:

“It was great to work on a real project that will be used by the community. We had to think carefully about the work we were doing and adapt to challenges as they came up. It gave me confidence in my skills and showed me what it’s like working on a live site.”

Craig Tyler, Chairperson of Corby and District Model Railway Society, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to the students and staff from Tresham College for their support. The improvements have made a huge difference to our reception area, making it more welcoming and practical for our members and visitors. The professionalism and enthusiasm shown by the students throughout the project has been outstanding, and we are delighted with the results.”

The project highlights Tresham College’s commitment to providing students with meaningful industry experience while supporting local organisations and community groups across Northamptonshire.

To find out more about the courses on offer at Tresham College, visit https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/colleges-and-campuses/tresham-college/

For more information on Corby and District Model Railway Society, visit https://corbymrs.great-site.net/

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