Around 150 visitors attended a fun day at a local educational facility in Chatteris.

The event took place at the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre (NCTC), a facility that is run by the Eastern Education Group and is situated close to Metalcraft Ltd.

The state of the art building was officially opened in November 2022 and supports students of all ages on a number of different courses ranging from apprenticeships to short vocational courses.

Activities during the fun day included a food stall, a bouncy castle, interactive games and companies such as the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Cambridge Science Centre also attended.

Cambs Times: Youngsters enjoying the fun dayYoungsters enjoying the fun day (Image: NCTC)

Cambs Times: Anil Kumar Bodi and Anita Bodi and their family attended the fun dayAnil Kumar Bodi and Anita Bodi and their family attended the fun day (Image: NCTC)

Paul Stephens is a member of the Cambridge Fire and Rescue Service in Chatteris and explained why he supported the event.      

He said: “We came along to support the local training centre to recruit people and give people fire safety information. The centre encourages people into the town – it’s brilliant.”

Cambs Times: Emily Gellard promoting new adult coursesEmily Gellard promoting new adult courses (Image: NCTC)

Another business who was in attendance was the Cambridge Science Centre and Andrew Farrel, science communicator, said: “Events like this are fantastic.

“Sharing the excitement and passion of science, technology, engineering and maths is why we are here.”

Louise Unwin is the head of the NCTC centre and helped organise the event. She said: “This event was all about engaging with parents and children and talking to them about what we do.

Cambs Times: Louise Unwin is the head of the NCTC centreLouise Unwin is the head of the NCTC centre (Image: NCTC)

“The centre has been really well received by the local community and people are starting to realise who we are. We are here to help people of all ages and we would like to thank everyone for coming along and supporting us, it was a great day”.

Hayley Key from Chatteris visited with her family and said: “It’s my first time here and the building is bigger than I thought it was.

“Having an education facility like this is good for the town. It’s been a nice day.”

Cambs Times: Hayley Key from Chatteris visited with her family Hayley Key from Chatteris visited with her family (Image: NCTC)

Julie Moye from Chatteris said: “The children came here with the school for science week and I think it (the NCTC) is brilliant for the town.”

Anil Kumar Bodi visited with his wife and two sons. Anil Kumar said: “It (the NCTC) is a centre point for Chatteris.”

Lauren Robson from Chatteris said: “It’s really nice (the centre) and I’m keen to do some of the adult courses.”

Cambs Times: Lisa Parish from the Eastern Collges Group apprenticeship teamLisa Parish from the Eastern Collges Group apprenticeship team (Image: NCTC)

Lisa Parish is the assistant principal for apprenticeship provision for the Eastern Colleges Group.

Lisa said: “We hosted the fun day as we are keen to make sure the people of Chatteris understand the purpose of what we do and we want to start to build a bigger presence in the town.

“We are here for the community, we will be a warm space for people in the winter and we want them to come and talk to us, learn from us and we are keen to understand what the Fenland region needs in terms of an education centre like us.

Cambs Times: Kim Foot and her familyKim Foot and her family (Image: NCTC)

“It’s a great place to live and work and we are proud to have a presence here.”

During the fun day, the centre launched some new courses including a new ‘multiply’ programme that aims to give adults over the age of 19, free training to help improve their numeracy skills.