A corporate partner of Shelter
B&Q and its parent company Kingfisher have supported Shelter since 2017. We share the belief that everyone should have a place they can call home. Since launching our partnership, B&Q colleagues and customers have raised vital funds for Shelter and Shelter Scotland, through in-store fundraising initiatives, participating in our fundraising events, product promotions and selling Shelter Christmas cards in stores and online. B&Q colleagues and customers also support Shelter Cymru in Wales, Housing Rights in Northern Ireland, and Focus Ireland in the Republic of Ireland.
Over the course of our partnership, B&Q have raised more than £5 million for Shelter, allowing us to provide services for over 100,000 people.
DIY Skills Advice Service
Shelter’s DIY Skills Advisers help people to gain fundamental DIY skills to build a positive future in their homes after a prolonged period of homelessness. They also help people to improve and maintain their homes, often preventing eviction. Referrals to the DIYSA service can be received from both Shelter colleagues and support staff from local partner organisations.
Once a year, each DIYSA works with volunteers from B&Q on a community day project, transforming community spaces and homes in their local areas.
The DIYSA team works with individuals, sharing their skills to enable them to participate in home improvements, teaching them how to paint, wallpaper, build flat-pack furniture and gardening. As well as support for individuals, the DIY Skills Advisers run workshops across the country to bring communities together and upskill those who attend. Shelter currently has nine DIY Skills Advisers based in Newcastle, Merseyside, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, London, Bournemouth, and Bristol.
B&Q and Shelter ‘Break the Mould’
B&Q and Shelter joined forces over six years ago to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving mould untreated and to educate the public on how to eradicate it for good. By teaming up with B&Q, we have been able to use different channels to amplify this advice to those who need it.
Here are some of our highlights from our annual campaigns:
practical and easy-to-follow advice available online
DIY queen Whinnie Williams' video with tips and tricks to help spot mould, remove it quickly and prevent it from coming back
B&Q Q&A session with a DIY Skills Adviser on their social channels
how to identify types of mould and their causes video
guidance and letter templates to use to alert the landlord or housing provider of the issue
Find out how to stop mould and damp with Break the Mould.
If you work at B&Q and want to join in the fight against housing injustice, please contact bandq@shelter.org.uk.
