Dulux Trade Volunteers Produce Outstanding Results

CRASH has been working with Kairos Community Trust for many years supporting a number of their development projects. The charity has an excellent record of providing services to extremely needy and vulnerable homeless people.

The need

The most recent project saw the creation of an extension to a three-storey Victorian vicarage – now a move-on house – to provide two additional bedrooms bringing the total bed spaces to 11.

The solution

One room was built on the site of the disused garage; the other was part of internal modifications that also included the installation of a new wet-room style bathroom designed for disabled residents. CRASH Patrons provided pro bono architectural and planning expertise whilst others donated building materials.

To finish to project, Dulux Trade’s Regional Sales Manager Mike Cobb brought in a team of his colleagues to redecorate the hallway and communal areas of the property which, considering its size, was quite a challenge!

How patrons helped

Working with Mike was Dulux Trade Specification Account Managers Stuart Neal, Tony Westgarth, Chas Argent, Dave Morgan and Trevor Steele, Regional Development Manager Andrew Cleaver and Business Development Managers Alan Allsop, Eddie Dyer, Stewart McGinn and Stuart Smith.

Stuart Neal helped Mike plan the project as well as taking part in it. He said: “The areas that had to be decorated were in very poor condition and needed a fair bit of preparation. The team put in a terrific effort to get this completed in two days.”

Explaining that there was more to it than simply painting walls, Stuart continued: “There was a very good team spirit and it was really useful for everyone to apply some of our premium products like our new QD Gloss/Undercoat, as well as Diamond Matt Light and Space. We already recognised the quality of our new QD paints, but we were also seriously impressed with the finish and coverage of the Diamond Matt Light and Space which managed to cover up some very bad walls that we had spot primed, with a mist and two coats!”

He went on to say: “What really made this a great project though was the genuine appreciation from Kairos Director Mossie Lyons, the team from CRASH and the residents who were absolutely made up with our support and the finished results.”

The social impact