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Norman Piette, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, is inviting local charities and families to take advantage of their latest community initiative.
A team of nine staff members have given their time free-of-charge to construct a bespoke camping pitch at Seagull Village campsite in Herm, and the builders merchant has donated all the materials and tools necessary to develop the area of land as well as purchase the pitch from Herm for an annual fee.
Executive Manager at the NP Group, Steve Powell says “In 2019 we won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at Guernsey’s Community Foundation Awards for our work redeveloping the Chest & Heart medical centre for free. More recently we chose to offer free labour and materials to build a new potting shed at GROW. We were on the look-out for a new project when this brilliant opportunity came along.”
Steve says the site was a challenge at first: “It’s on quite a steep slope so we’ve removed around 40 tons of soil with an excavator, built a terrace for the tent to stand on and installed a summer house with solar panels which will contain a kitchen run on bottled gas. We’ve also laid Millboard decking where families can enjoy the sun.”
Steve says the intention is that the pitch will be used by families who deserve some respite but who may not be able to enjoy holidays elsewhere. The tent is 6.5 metres by 5 metres and will accommodate six people comfortably.
It has two double bedrooms, a lounge area, a barbecue with chairs and tables as well as the kitchen with a solar-powered fridge.
“The biggest challenge has been getting materials to the site. Excavators and tons of materials have all had to travel over on the cargo boat, then be transported up the hill and our team have been onsite in the evenings and weekends to unload and work with the Herm team. The project has happened quite quickly, around 10 weeks, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us in Herm, especially those who have regularly supplied refreshments.”
Herm Island’s Campsite manager has been very involved with the planning and construction of the site and said, “All the Herm team are extremely grateful to Norman Piette for their great work and commitment in converting the site to a fantastic usable camping pitch which will hopefully be enjoyed by lots of deserving children and families for many years to come. The campsite has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, with updated facilities and its own designated grocery shop and café so we're sure that everyone who gets to benefit from this very special pitch will make some wonderful memories and enjoy all that Herm has to offer."
Executive Sales & Marketing Manager, Lindsey Hart says the initiative is being run in association with charities but anyone is able to apply: “This is such a brilliant project, and the team are really proud to be giving something back to the community. When we see the first families enjoying what we’ve built we’ll get a lot of pleasure from it.
“If you’d like to nominate a family or individual or you are a charity who could benefit please email me on lindseyh@np-group.com explaining why. Once these have been looked at, we will draw up a timetable.
“Good luck! As they say, ‘there’s no place like Herm!”
