Portable Offices has just added a third storey to the portable building that makes up the AHOY Centre.

Situated on the banks of the river Thames,The AHOY Centre is a registered charity based in Deptford, London that helps disadvantaged youngsters and people with disabilities.

The AHOY provides a range of courses and activities using the medium of rowing and sailing to educate, train and provide apprenticeships to get people into work, especially those that have struggled at school and have little or no academic qualifications. The AHOY also has a high focus on the community and brings together people from all different walks of life to help each other.

The new third storey provides training facilities during the day and then in the evening becomes hostel style accommodation with drop down bunks.

This is to provide a respite for some of vulnerable young people from their chaotic home lives so they can get away for a few days every so often.

This was the second project for the AHOY undertaken by Portable Offices. The first was phase was implemented in 2012 when it was decided to expand the centre to incorporate training rooms and specialised equipment for the growing number of participants and to launch their two new projects – ‘Pulling Together’ & ‘Show Me Why’.

Because the building is literally on the Thames wall, flexible and durable accommodation was a necessity together with the need for speedy construction.  As a result, Portable Offices was tasked with providing modular buildings as part of a full, turn-key package.

The Portable Offices’ team worked in tandem with the AHOY Centre management and volunteers to include specific design features and to price-engineer the building to meet the budget criteria.

Despite the difficulties with limited space and access, the contract proved to be a source of inspiration to the Portable Offices’ team who added a number of complimentary personal design features in order to optimise the build for the charity.

This included adapting the building so there was no transfer of noise or vibration from the dedicated rowing room on the first floor where all 18 rowing machines are linked together with data share equipment to facilitate a simulated rowing race.

The state-of-the-art facilities enabled the growing number of disadvantaged and disabled people to accurately simulate exact rowing conditions and to go on to try their hand at an increasing array of water sports including a specially built craft - which can be solely manned and crewed by people with disabilities - The AHOY Freedom.

The new third storey will give local youngsters a chance for respite from their chaotic home and often disruptive family lives.

Clive Ongley, MBE, Chair Trustee and one of the Ahoy Centre’s founders, oversaw the construction of the new facilities, working closely with the Portable Offices’ team. He commented: “Once again, Portable Offices worked in tandem with us and came up with good, practical solutions to any challenges that appeared.  Contracts such as this are never easy; quite often they are more of an ‘art form’ than an exact science.”

About AHOY:

The name of the AHOY Centre is an acronym of Adventure Help and Opportunities for Youth Centre and is an accredited RYA sailability centre and has instructors, boats and launching equipment that enable it to provide tailored sailing courses for people with serious disabilities, including those in wheelchairs.  This equipment includes a 40 ft long power-boat, the first of its kind in the world, that is designed so that it can be crewed entirely by people with disabilities. The boat has cctv cameras allowing the crew to easily view all angles around the craft, and state-of-the-art controls that can be used with small finger movements,

In addition, the centre's partners in the probation service and the police refer to the centre youths identified as being at-risk due to their home circumstances or their association with gang violence or religious fundamentalism. Such youths benefit from the structured environment, the new and challenging activities, and the presence of strong role models. Many go on to gain qualifications and even become instructors in their own right.

For more information on Portable Offices’ mobile accommodation and modular buildings contact 01244 535566

When Kitwell Primary School in Birmingham had an urgent need to accommodate additional pupil places in its design and technology department to school contacted Portable Offices to provide a temporary classroom.

The end result exceeded the staff’s expectations. Lynne Dixon spokesperson commented: “With a limited budget and the requirement to minimise impact on teaching and learning, a modular build was our best option and Portable Offices offered us the best possible combination of quality and price.

“We are hoping to install a library on the other side and will be back in touch soon. I would have no hesitation in recommending Portable Offices to other schools and we are already working with them on our next project.”

MSS Maintenance offers a 24/7 site maintenance & welding service within the quarrying and allied industries. Established in 2006, the company has experienced rapid growth which resulted in a move to larger premises.

Having used Portable Offices Derby depot in the past for their modular building needs, the company once again turned to the portable buildings provider to establish offices, meeting room, kitchen and washroom facilities for its new site.

Gail Stanway, administrator of MSS Maintenance, said: “Everything went very smoothly and we were delighted with both the service and the product which is perfect for our needs.”

St Joseph's College is a co-educational independent day school in Reading, Berkshire, England with around 500 pupils.

Anthony Leggett, Bursar of St Joseph’s College Reading commented on their experience of using Portable Offices:

“We used Portable Offices to provide us with a new changing room and PE Block as part of a wider development of artificial turf pitches at the College. With a limited budget and the requirement to minimise impact on teaching and learning, a modular build was our only option and Portable Offices offered us the best possible combination of quality and price.

“Working with us to meet the requirements of a very demanding Planning Authority, Portable Offices provided flexibility over the design to fit in to our rather restricted site.  They worked well with the other contractors to offer us an excellent product that enhances our site, far removed from the concerns some of our team had over modular build.  I would have no hesitation in recommending Portable Offices to other schools and we are already working with them on our next big project, as we are convinced they offer us the best value for money and quality solution.”