We need your help now on house renovation for young homeless
Nightsafe needs your help – and we need it NOW!
We are calling on businesses and individuals to transform a shell of a property into a bright modern home for five young people who have faced homelessness.
In a DIY SOS-style operation we are appealing for businesses and retailers to donate goods and furniture, trades and volunteers to offer their time; and monetary donations to help fund and furnish the project.
The house in Anchor Avenue, Darwen, was bought by a generous supporter but is in dire need of renovation.
A team of volunteers have started on the preparation work, but other volunteers and trades are needed to turn the shell of a building into a proper home.
When complete, the six-bedroom property will provide a safe haven for five young people, with the sixth bedroom being used by a rotation of Nightsafe staff members, who will be on-site at the property with its residents 24/7.
Our chief executive Jan Larkin said: “The Covid pandemic has seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of young people facing living difficulties in the Northwest. During this time Nightsafe has continued to support 160 young people when they have reached crisis point.
“We are passionate about providing and giving young people who have had a difficult start in life the tools, knowledge and resources they need to stand on their own two feet.
“We want Anchor Avenue to feel like home, not like an institution.”
Jan Larkin and Nicola Roscoe
Husband and wife interior design team Heather and Philip German, of Darwen-based My Vinteriors, have donated their services, supplying designs and 3D renderings of how the dream home could look.
Nightsafe want to give the youngsters a real kick-start by providing them with modern furniture and appliances relevant to modern-day living, in-line with the stunning design.
Jan explained: “That means providing a comfy sofa they can snuggle into on a windy winter evening. Cupboards and drawers where they can keep their belongings private and safe. A dinner table where they can chat about their day, and a desk where they can revise for exams.
“We want the property to be a haven of happiness where they feel like they belong. Simply, we want to give them a place they call home. A place to help give them a fresh start and a path to a more stable future.”
Initially, volunteers are needed to carry out electrical work, plastering and decorating, and outside jobs including fencing and laying pavements and a driveway.
Jan said: “We have been touched by the generosity and kindness of the people we have approached so far. We hope the people of Blackburn and Darwen will help us to make a house a home.”
Businesses and individuals who can offer goods or their services should contact nightsafe@vivapr.co.uk and money donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/AnchorAvenue
Here’s a wish list of the items we’d like if possible:
Kitchen:
- Teal / Blue paint CROWN PAINTS
- black pendant lights, x 2 LUMENATA
- Dining room pendant globe light bulbs, LUMENATA
- Black clock Ikea, £22
- Wood for feature wall, NEED SIZES
- Artwork
- Black blind (window) (W) 1780 (H) 1120
- Black day and night Blind patio doors (W) 1190 (H) missing
Staff bedroom:
- Teal / blue paint CROWN PAINTS
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26 COLIN WHITTLE
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19 COLIN WHITTLE
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12 COLIN WHITTLE
- Glass pendant, LUMENATA
- Black bedside table, ikea, £40
- Lamp, dunelm, £18 COLIN WHITTLE
- Rug, dunelm, £55 COLIN WHITTLE
- Black night and day blind (W) 1180 (H) 1310
Staff office:
- Black desk, Ikea, £75
- Office chair, ikea, £85
- Glass pendant, Ikea, £34
- Round jute rug, dunelm, £55
- Unit, ikea, £70
- Venetian blind NEED SIZES
Entrance (left):
- pendant lights, LUMENATA
- Black wood paint, CROWN PAINTS
- Yellow paint CROWN PAINTS
- Black shoe storage, Ikea, £25 x 2
- Coat rack, Ikea, £12 x 2
- Black day and night blind (W) 640 (H) 1010
Entrance (right):
- pendant lights, LUMENATA
- Yellow paint CROWN PAINTS
- Black wood paint, CROWN PAINTS
- Black day and night blind (W) 640 (H) 1010
Dining room:
- Artwork, BESPOKE – ALEXANDRA GALLAGHER
- wood table, Perch and Parrow, £465
- 6 green chairs, Dunelm, £89 each
- Green rug, Dunelm, £104.30
- Tripod light, IKEA, £55
- Plant, Ikea £25
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- 4 light hanging light, Dunelm, £95
- Dining room lamp shade, The Range, £12.99
- Curtains, Dunelm, £35 (W) 2360 (H) 1320 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
- Paint – CROWN PAINTS
Lounge:
- TV – ANY
- Wood (for panelling) clean planks of pine, painted, in 2.4m or more lengths and About 4 or 5 inch wide x 26 planks
- Wood for shelves
- Coffee table, Homebase, £65
- Brown leather sofa, DFS or Sofology
- Cushions covers, Ikea, brown orange, £3 each x 3
- Cushion inner, Ikea, £3 each x 6
- Cushion covers, ikea, black, £3 each, x 3
- Curtains, Dunelm, £35 (W) 2360 (H) 1320 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
- Paint CROWN PAINTS
- Lighting: LUMENATA
Bedroom 1 (green):
- Black wardrobe, ikea, £150
- MDF Wood for desk and fridge surround
- Chair, Dunelm, £69
- Kettle, Amazon, £22
- TV – EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE
- Glass pendant, LUMENATA
- Bedroom light green LUMENATA
- Wood for headboard
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26
- Throw (green), amazon, £13
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- Plant
- Lamp (black), Dunelm, £18
- Green paint CROWN PAINTS
- Feature green paint x 3 colours CROWN PAINTS
- Black day and night blind (W) 1800 (H) 1170 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
Bedroom 2 (navy):
- Black wardrobe, ikea, £150
- MDF Wood for desk and fridge surround
- Chair, Dunelm, £69
- Lamp (black), Dunelm, £18
- Kettle, Amazon, £22
- TV – EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE
- Glass pendant, LUMENATA
- Ceiling light pink LUMENATA
- Wood for headboard
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26
- Throw (pink), the Range, £13.99
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- Plant
- Navy paint CROWN PAINTS
- Feature pink, cyan and sea green paint x 3 colours CROWN PAINTS
- Black day and night blind (W) 1800 (H) 1170 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
Bedroom 3 (orange):
- Black wardrobe, ikea, £150
- MDF Wood for desk and fridge surround
- Chair, Dunelm, £69
- Lamp (black), Dunelm, £18
- Kettle, Amazon, £22
- TV – EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE
- Glass pendant, LUMENATA
- Ceiling light grey LUMENATA
- Wood for headboard
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26
- Throw (grey), amazon, £12.99
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- Plant
- orange paint CROWN PAINTS
- Feature grey and dark orange paint x 2 colours CROWN PAINTS
- Wallpaper Honesty shell pink luxury geometric wallpaper, 1838 WALLCOVERINGS
- Black day and night blind (W) 1800 (H) 1020 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
Bedroom 4 (green and pink):
- Black wardrobe, ikea, £150
- MDF Wood for desk and fridge surround
- Chair, Dunelm, £69
- Lamp (black), Dunelm, £18
- Kettle, Amazon, £22
- TV – EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE
- Glass pendant, Iconic lights, £28
- Ceiling light white £158.27 Litfad
- Wood for headboard
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26
- Throw (lime), amazon, £10.38
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- Plant
- Green paint CROWN PAINTS
- Feature pink paint x 1 colours CROWN PAINTS
- Wallpaper Honesty Peridot Green Luxury Geometric Wallpaper, £105 per roll, 1838 WALLCOVERINGS
- Black day and night blind (W) 1800 (H) 1020 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
Bedroom 5 (blue and light blue):
- Black wardrobe, ikea, £150
- MDF Wood for desk and fridge surround
- Wood for shelving and bulkhead, 3×2 inch x 2.4m wood for building frames for the bed and supporting stair head. About 10 lengths for now.
- Chair, Dunelm, £69
- Lamp (black), Dunelm, £18
- Kettle, Amazon, £22
- TV – EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE
- Glass pendant, LUMENATA
- Ceiling light blue LUMENATA
- Wood for headboard
- Black double duvet cover, Dunelm, £26
- Throw (light blue), The Range, £13
- Double duvet, dunelm, £19
- 2 x pillows, dunelm, £12
- Mirror, Ikea, £55
- Plant
- Light blue paint CROWN PAINTS
- Feature mid and dark blue x 2 colours CROWN PAINTS
- Wallpaper Honesty Opal Blue Luxury Geometric Wallpaper, 1838 WALLCOVERINGS
- Black day and night blind (W) 1210 (H) 1170 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
Corridor:
- Yellow paint CROWN PAINTS
- Black paint CROWN PAINTS
- Prints
- Plant
- pendant lights, LUMENATA
- Black day and night blind (1) (W) 1200 (H) 1310 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
- Black day and night blind (2) (W) 1200 (H) 1310 (Height from Floor to window ledge)
And support from the following trades:
- Plasters
- Joiners
- Electricians
- garden maintenance HOZE IT
- Tarmac driveway
- Painters and decorators
Without the help of our supporters, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.
Thank you to all our #NightsafeHeroes.
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