Swift Unlimited’s project management skills help "Challenge Anneka"
Published: 13 May 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutes 17 seconds
Leading bespoke garden room & annexe design company Swift Unlimited is making headlines as they participate in the charity television show "Challenge Anneka." Swift Unlimited has been chosen to help build a dementia village for the charity AgeUK. The episode featuring Swift Unlimited will be broadcast on Channel 5 on Sunday, 14 May 2023, at 7:30 pm. This collaboration is part of Dementia Action Week, running from 15-21 May 2023, an important event organised by the Alzheimer's Society to raise awareness and encourage action on dementia.
Swift Unlimited's expertise in project managing Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) structure projects has made them the ideal partner for this remarkable undertaking. The company was invited by a large SIP manufacturing company to oversee and install the SIPs for the Age UK Dementia Village as a volunteer and charity project. The village comprises a series of bespoke buildings designed to resemble a period-era high street, including a pub, post office, record shop, cinema, bakery, workshop, greengrocers, and a café.
Martin Lawson, Director of Swift Unlimited, enthusiastically accepted the invitation to contribute as a volunteer, appointing Matt Leighton, Swift's Construction Manager, as the project lead. Despite having only two weeks' notice from the initial pre-construction meeting, Matt Leighton worked diligently to arrange manufacturing, procurement, labour, technical drawings, and a schedule of works in collaboration with the project architects and Channel 5 film production crew.
The main challenge faced by Swift Unlimited was completing the project within three days, with round-the-clock operations on the site. The construction team, led by Swift Unlimited and assisted by multiple volunteer tradespeople with diverse skill sets, finished the structural build within the allotted time frame. However, on the first day, the Swift team realised an essential aspect had been overlooked - the interface between the buildings and the surrounding landscaping. Recognising the need for "level access" from the village green into the buildings to accommodate dementia patients who may have difficulty walking, the team had to undertake significant groundworks and introduce last-minute rainwater drainage solutions. This crucial addition was spearheaded by Matt Leighton, drawing on his extensive knowledge of building bespoke Swift annexes nationwide.
Following the completion of the structural work, the team embarked on the internal fit-out, incorporating period features generously donated by local members of the public. Swift Unlimited worked closely with the landscapers, ensuring that the landscaping was completed in tandem with the main building.
Swift Unlimited experts in bespoke living annexe design
Swift Unlimited empowers families to navigate the complexities of later-life challenges that elderly parents may encounter. Their living annexes minimise the demanding stresses associated with later-life loneliness, rising care home costs, and difficulties in providing practical family support. Swift offers:
Don't miss the inspiring episode featuring Swift Unlimited's involvement in building the AgeUK Dementia Village on "Challenge Anneka." Tune in to Channel 5 on Sunday, 14 May or find the episode on My5.