Grand design to help kids in Calais Jungle

Peter Dew and Richard O’Hanlon have set up a grassroots non-profit organization called Tak Tak Tak which is going to make a flat-pack building called the Calais Kids Space.

And they are hoping the Rugby community will get on board with the fundraising to make a real difference in the camp, commonly known as The Jungle.

Peter grew up in Pailton and studied at Ashlawn School before going to Coventry University to undertake an art foundation and then onto Manchester University to study architecture.

Richard has lived in Frankton for 15 years. He went to Princethorpe College before studying architecture at Liverpool University.

Both of them are now undertaking a professional diploma in architecture at The Cass School of Architecture, Art and Design in London.

Richard said: “We began working on this project a number of months ago following an eye-opening time spent volunteering with aid organisations.

“It is extremely important to raise awareness and to help improve the situation for these children.

“Most of them are teenage boys who are in some of the most important developmental stages of their lives.

“The Calais Kids Space is how we are going to provide at least some help. It will provide at least a little stability and will serve as somewhere these children can feel secure.”

The building will be taken on by an organisation called Jungle Books. It started a small library in The Jungle and has now grown into a school and welfare operation.

Richard added: “We need help to make it happen. We have launched a fundraising campaign in the hope of reaching £6,600.

“This will pay for the building and the logistics of getting it to Calais.”

For more details and to get involved, go to: www.crowd funder.co.uk/calaiskidsspace