AN exciting project bringing together a range of services for local children, young people and families to work as a single multi-agency 'team' in the Callington area has moved a step closer with the awarding of the contract for constructing the building.

Based at Callington Community College, the scheme is part of the wider 'Integration through co-location project', which will enable services to work more effectively together in the Bude, Launceston and Callington areas.  Funding for the project is being provided specifically for this purpose by central Government.

Designed by Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects, the new building will provide 360sqm of office and training facilities. 

Callington College will use the ground floor as their travel and tourist vocational training centre. The first floor will be used for drop-in office space, meeting and conference rooms. External works includes the re-alignment of the existing service road, an extra 15-car parking space for office staff and landscaping on completion of the works.

Staff from Cornwall Council's Children, Schools and Families teams that provide support to families and young people, as well as NHS staff and other Children's Trust partner organisations, will use the Callington office.

Emotional health practitioners who support the needs of students, families and staff will also be based in the new centre'. The premises will be linked to similar offices at Launceston and Bude.

The new building is being developed through a partnership involving Cornwall Council and Callington Community College, acting on behalf of the South East Cornwall Learning Partnership (SECLP). Cornwall Council has awarded the contract to build the two-storey building to Ryearch Ltd. Planning consent was granted in August 2010 and work started in November.

College head Gary Lobbett said: 'All members of staff and the governing body are delighted that the college is contributing to such important local and national developments. Our students will benefit significantly from these unique opportunities to access national, showcase facilities on the college site.

'The new centre for integrated children and families support will be highly beneficial and greatly appreciated by all members of our community. Our travel and tourism students will gain a truly authentic experience of working in the travel and tourism sector and will encounter new opportunities to develop the skills required for learning internationally. Callington is a highly successful "International School". These new facilities bring exciting new dimensions to our college.

Neil Burden, the council's cabinet member for children's services said; 'This is one of the few projects planned last year where the funding has been honoured which we have naturally been nervous about. 

'This is an exciting project which enhances family and educational partnership working and will be delivered before the end of 2011.'

Cornwall Council member for Callington Andrew Long described the project as 'another vital spoke in the wheel for this very successful college'.

'It is another example of how well our community college is doing and the new facilities will only enhance its already excellent reputation.' 

Construction work is expected to be completed by August 2011 and the centre open in September 2011.