BARRATT DAVID WILSON HOMES INVESTS OVER £70 MILLION INTO KENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

The release of the report coincides with a recently launched video, which highlights Barratt David Wilson Kent’s forecast spending of £73.5 million over the next five years, and interviews some of the key community case studies that have already benefited from the housebuilder’s support.
William Walsh, Managing Director for Barratt David Wilson Kent, comments: “Providing for local communities across Kent is a vital part of our responsibility when building new homes. Our investment, whether through Section 106 agreements with local councils, expenditure within our supply chain, or the creation of jobs, plays a crucial role helping local communities to not just survive, but thrive. Every link in the chain plays an important role in supporting the local economy – for example, and in the last year alone, our new residents have generated millions by spending in local shops and on key services. As we enter a new calendar year, we remain committed to delivering meaningful support to individuals and communities wherever we build new homes.”
The video details the housebuilder’s support for local schools, education, charities, health services and apprentices, explaining its long-standing legacy within Kent. Highlighted in the footage is Barratt David Wilson Kent’s apprenticeship offering which supports young people in the local community to find employment opportunities, including Becca Vickers who began a Level 2 Carpentry apprenticeship with the housebuilder in August 2022. Barratt David Wilson Kent’s apprentices have contributed to £163,000 to the wider economy over the 2022-23 financial year, and all, including Becca, have been given the opportunity to kickstart a career in the industry to work in tandem with award-winning site teams to pass on their knowledge and expertise, and also attending local colleges for examinations to achieve qualifications.
Aside from apprenticeship and employer opportunities, Barratt David Wilson Kent also works with a range of community groups, including charities and local individuals. Just one is the housebuilder’s Charity of The Year 2023, Porchlight, which is a homeless charity based in Canterbury. In the video, the representative speaks about Barratt David Wilson Kent’s funding which has aided their mission of helping approximately 1,850 people a year to escape the streets and rebuild their lives. Earlier this year Barratt David Wilson Kent also granted Canterbury-based wheelchair tennis star Ruben Harris a £4,000 sponsorship. This will aid travel expenses, including the purchase of a brand-new kit for a whole year, allowing Harris to continue his competitive career nationally but also globally and be Kent’s rising star.
Natalie Perry, Director of Sales & Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, comments: “As a sustainable housebuilder that is creating new homes to live in across Kent, we want to be able to work with, and not against, local communities when building in their areas. Building a strong community is a real cornerstone for us at Barratt David Wilson Kent and without it we wouldn’t be able to build and provide the homes that we do. Liaising with vital groups who are the pillar of communities is at the top of our priority list. We want to invest both our time and money into understanding the needs of our people in Kent, and how we can help. From Hythe to Ramsgate, we are committed to community investment for as long as we are building in these areas, and far beyond that too.”
To watch Barratt David Wilson Kent’s Community Investment Video, please visit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MYBX_NtFck&t=111s.