Major funding boost for National Stud's new education and training facility
The fundraising campaign for a new purpose-built accommodation and training block for students at The National Stud has got off to a flying start thanks to the generosity of a supporter who has contributed £1 million.
The new state of the art facilities will provide self-contained accommodation for 32 students in individual bedrooms, as well as a lecture facility, computer suite and individual seminar rooms.
National Stud Chairman, Andrew Parrish, said "This is a magnificent and very generous contribution which has made a significant in-road into our projected budget of £3 million. The donor does not wish to be identified at this stage. However, it goes without saying that it is an individual who has enormous empathy with the activities of the Stud, particularly our charitable aims. Education and Training is the Stud's most important function in the context of our service to the Thoroughbred industry. We are committed to the strategic priorities laid down in the Donoughue Report and we are working hard with the TBA to ensure that the Stud continues to play a leading role in meeting industry needs".
It is hoped that work on the new building will commence during the first part of 2006, with a projected construction period of 12 months. Full planning permission has already been secured. Further funding is being sought from a range of charitable sources, particularly Educational Trusts.
Mike Mason, Learning and HR Manager at the Stud, is delighted to see the project underway. "This building will eventually replace the current accommodation block" he said. "It has served us well to this point but it was built in the 1960s and is now inadequate to cope with the growing number of students and courses at the Stud. The existing teaching facilities are increasingly unsuitable for modern course needs".
This is the first major capital project to be launched under the auspices of the Wavertree Charitable Trust, which was granted charitable status on 22nd October. The new Board of Trustees held its inaugural meeting in early December.
The building has been designed by Forum Architects of Newmarket, and plans are available for inspection at the National Stud.
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