Member Article

Walter Thompson builds disabled charity chalet at Kielder

ONE of the region’s leading businesswomen has donated a luxury chalet to a disability charity.

Helen McArdle CBE is chair and founder of Helen McArdle Care and was first introduced to the work of the Calvert Trust in 2013. She was so impressed by the charity – which provides holidays for people with physical or learning difficulties – that she decided to donate a fully-accessible, self-catering chalet.

The McArdle Chalet has now opened at Kielder Water and Forest Park, after work was completed by regional construction company Walter Thompson Ltd.

Paul Hammerton, Managing Director of family-owned Walter Thompson, explained: “We’ve been working in partnership with the Helen McArdle Care Group for 14 years so when they asked us to get involved in such a worthwhile project, we were only too happy to help.

“The chalet took about four months to complete and we’re delighted with the results. I’m sure it will be well used and provide a great break for Calvert Trust users.”

Speaking about Calvert Trust Kielder and the donation, Helen said: “The work that the Trust does has a hugely positive impact on many people across our region.

“As a business with our roots very firmly in the North East we are keen to support the communities in which we operate as much as we can. Calvert Trust Kielder does a great job and is a truly fantastic place.

“It has been wonderful working with Paul Hammerton and the team at Walter Thompson in the construction of the chalet. We have worked with them for many years on the build of our care homes and they always complete project to the highest of quality and with excellent service.”

Chief Executive of the Calvert Trust, Peter Cockerill, said: “This donation from Helen McArdle doesn’t just provide us with another really great place to stay at Calvert Trust Kielder. It provides an ongoing, vital revenue stream for the charity and means we will continue our work with disabled adults and children long into the future.

“It is quite literally an amazing and very generous thing to do. We are very, very grateful to Helen and everyone involved in creating the stunning McArdle Chalet.”

The chalet is also being used by Helen McArdle Care to reward its own staff. Staff can nominate colleagues who they feel could benefit from a break, through bereavement or illness.

Helen McArdle Care was founded by Helen McArdle in 1989 and along with her family she renovated and opened her first care home in West Pelton, County Durham.

Walter Thompson, one of the region’s leading construction companies, was founded in 1920 and is based in Northallerton.

For more information on Walter Thompson Ltd, go to www.walterthompson.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Walter Thompson .