Stepping Stones to Stability in Waltham Forest

CRASH Supports Waltham Forest Churches Night Shelter’s Vision for Sustainable Move-On Housing

Branches is a registered charity based in Walthamstow, London, providing temporary accommodation and resettlement support for single homeless adults aged 18 to 65. Their 27-bed purpose-built hostel offers stays of up to 18 months, during which residents receive tailored support to address complex needs, including mental health challenges and substance misuse. Services include skills training, education, and learning opportunities aimed at fostering self-belief and independence. Branches also features a professional-grade kitchen where residents can cook, participate in meal preparation, and attend cooking sessions.

The need

Each year, WFCNS supports an average of 150 rough sleepers across North London to develop the resilience to live independently in their own homes. In 2023, they purchased their first move-on accommodation, a home just around the corner from their Branches hostel in Walthamstow. The house was in need of refurbishment to create a warm, inviting, safe environment for residents.

The project

The charity spent 17 months refurbishing the house to meet the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) standards, the property is also one of the first HMOs to aim to meet Passivhaus (EnerPHit) standards.

CRASH was proud to play a pivotal role in the project, providing professional expertise, financial support, and pro bono construction materials through our Corporate Patrons. The collective generosity and skills of CRASH Patrons helped WFCNS create a home that supports recovery, sustainability, and long-term wellbeing.

The total Gift in Kind value for this project was £161,648.75, including professional expertise, pro bono or discounted materials and a grant.

CRASH Corporate Patrons contributed:

Arcadis did an initial visit and provided a Project Advisor’s report at the start of the project.

Volker Fitzpatrick and Dalkia provided professional expertise and joined us on the project visit and met with architects and MEP team. Volker Fitzpatrick also completed a Thermal imaging report which helped show the design team where heat was being lost throughout the building.

Kingspan, Knauf Insulation and Etex Superglass provided insulation products to improve the thermal performance throughout the building. Knauf Drywall provided products to support the installation of the ceilings.

Bauder provided roofing materials for the main building and the garden room, to ensure watertightness throughout.

British Gypsum supported the project with plasterboard for all bedrooms and bathrooms, as the house was being remodelled.

Geberit provided all bathroom sanitary wear, including basins, showers and WC’s for the ensuite bedrooms and a basin for the garden room.

Genuit provided a Multi Ventilation Heat Recovery System (MVHR), this unit means that outside air can be circulated into each room to improve the ventilation within the rooms.

Dulux Decorator Centre provided paint for the entire project and their technical team supported with advice on colours, which improved the aesthetics of each room.

CRASH Supporters contributed:

Gardiner and Theobald supported the charity with VAT advice on the project.

Johnson Tiles provided floor and wall tiles for the hallway, living area, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room.

Heckmondwike supported with carpet tiles for all the bedrooms.

A Sustainable Model for the Future

Designed by Cullinan Studio, the house has been retrofitted with the aim of meeting EnerPHit standards, applying Passivhaus design principles to drastically reduce energy demand from 219 kWh/m2a to just 28 kWh/m2a – a remarkable 87% improvement. Features include:

• High-performance insulation and airtightness using Passive Purple
• Triple-glazed windows with heritage-appropriate design
• Mechanical ventilation heat recovery system for fresh, clean air
• Air source heat pump and solar panels for decarbonised heating

Cai Hall, Project Architect at Cullinan Studio, commented: “It has been great to work with Branches on this project where we could explore innovative and experimental approaches to retrofit, types of housing, and meeting the needs of their residents.”

The outcome

The home now features:

The Stepping Stones house provides a safe, stable environment where residents can stay for 6 to 12 months while continuing to receive wraparound support. With regular visits from support staff and access to the full range of Branches services, residents will be empowered to connect with the local community and move forward with confidence.

The house is centred around supporting residents whilst fostering independence. The team at Branches have designed a second-stage home which naturally provides a stepping stone between the hostel and independent living.  With individual post boxes and electricity metres for each room, residents can practice paying and managing bills. Each room is also equipped with its own fridge, and the communal kitchen with shared freezer allows residents to do their own catering – an important stepping stone as they move from the hostel shelter where they are supported at mealtimes.

This transformative project wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration and generosity of supporters. Thanks to CRASH Patrons, WFCNS is one step closer to ending the cycle of homelessness for more people in London.