HS2 donate new classroom bus to West London School

Costain-Skanska joint venture has refurbished a disused bus and donated it to Old Oak Primary School in west London, for use both as a classroom and by the school’s social enterprise initiative “Bubble and Squeak”.

Bubble & Squeak, run by a group of children from East Acton, is fighting food waste by selling surplus food in the playground of Old Oak Primary School and to the local community. The children named their enterprise “Bubble & Squeak” after the traditional English dish made using leftover vegetables.

Costain-Skanska joint venture (CSjv) is delivering the HS2 Enabling Works programme in London. They joined up with their supply chain to overhaul the bus and adapt it so that children from the school and the local community could use it as an alternative learning environment and community space.

The bus was donated by RATP Dev London, and is fitted out with tables, chairs, and a television, so that the school can use it as an overflow classroom. The exterior of the bus has been completely revamped with a wrapping, designed by the school, that decorates the bus in a “bubble and squeak” style. Astroturf installed on parts of the floor and walls adds to the environment’s sensory experience.

The overhauled bus donated to Old Oak Primary School and Bubble & Squeak Studios, for the children and community to enjoy as an alternative learning environment and community space. — Credit: HS2 Ltd

The project was coordinated by CSjv, and made possible through the charitable work of three of their sub-contractors, Lynch, Lydon’s and Wingate, who each lent their expertise to deliver the scheme. CSjv managed the project and prepared the foundations for the bus, Lynch completed the fit out and arranged for transport of the bus to the school, and Wingate provided the external electrical wiring. The project was a great example of multi-disciplinary subcontractors acting together to produce a product with real tangible benefits to the community.

Speaking about the community project, Dan Hunt, Programme Director for CSjv, said “We are pleased that we have been able to make this donation to Old Oak Primary School and leave a legacy for the community we have been working in since 2016. It is a great example of how we can work with our local communities and schools to provide valuable resources and give children a unique learning experience.”

Kingsbury Precast Viaduct site in Warwickshire

Jennifer Murphy, Old Oak Community Centre Manager, said “We are thrilled about this exciting, vibrant space and how we can use it to engage our the local community, partners and stakeholders. It’s going to add so much value in how we all collaborate and work together inclusively.”

A class of students and their teacher demonstrating how the new space could work in the donated bus — Credit: HS2 Ltd

The bus was officially handed over to Bubble & Squeak and Old Oak Primary School on Friday 1st October, at an event attended by the local MP, Andy Slaughter.

After the hand-over, Andy Slaughter, who is the MP for Hammersmith, took the opportunity to look around the new facility and said “I am delighted to be invited to open the renovated CSjv bus to Old Oak Primary School. The bus looks fantastic and will be a great resource for the school, including to help deliver its healthy eating programme, Bubble and Squeak. Thanks to CSjv, HS2, Old Oak Primary School and Bubble & Squeak for their help in making this happen.”

“The renovated bus is a great opportunity for the school to provide additional external teaching spaces and a home for Bubble and Squeak in the Old Oak Primary School”

Robert Lynch, Director at Lynch, said “We are so happy to see the bus we upcycled being put to great use by Old Oak Primary School. The years of learning and fun that will happen on the bus are a great legacy of the HS2 project”

Harry Haley, Contracts Manager at Wingate, said “Wingate are proud to have contributed to this project which will be of great benefit to the school and support the local community.”

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