Top comedian Jo Brand opens new psychology unit delivered in partnership with Coombs
Jo Brand officially opened Canterbury Christ Church University’s new Tunbridge Wells site. Located on Meadow Road, the Salomons Centre is the latest in a long line of projects delivered for the university.
Working in partnership with Betteridge & Milsom, HMY and Evans & Langford we transformed this 5-storey former office block into teaching, library and support accommodation.
The scheme achieved an outstanding 88% KPI rating as a result of the whole project team. Our local supply chain pulled together to deliver the impressive new facilities during an intensive 10-week period.
The Salomons Centre will offer postgraduate courses in the areas of applied psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Jo Brand’s association with the University started with the development of the Buddy Scheme. This pairs second year Mental Health Nursing students with a buddy who is a current mental health user. The scheme helps students understand their role and responsibilities as a mental health nurse. The scheme has won many national awards and commendations.
Mental health is a personal and professional concern for Jo. After working in psychiatric nursing for ten years, she began a career in stand-up comedy. Her experiences as a psychiatric nurse are often incorporated into her routines, increasing awareness of the work done in the field of mental health.
Furthermore, Jo was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2014, for her work raising awareness of mental health issues and challenging the stigma surrounding these illnesses.
Our work with Canterbury Christ Church University has seen a variety of buildings on their main Canterbury campus, such as the Laud Building, Maxwell Davies Building as well as the Grade II listed St Gregory’s Church in addition to other areas transformed for the benefit of their students. Selection of images reproduced courtesy of Canterbury Christ Church University.
