SSJ’s Accommodation-Based Support: A Story of B&Q’s Generosity

We are incredibly fortunate to have B&Q supporting our work here at SSJ. For the second time this year, as part of their annual Community Days programme, a team of B&Q employees worked tirelessly to transform the living space for residents that we are supporting through accommodation-based support. A property in Southampton benefited from the DIY expertise of the head office Commercial team, under the superb organisational skills and direction of B&Q plc PA, Lynn Westdorp. 

Joining the team were kitchen designers from B&Q’s parent company, Kingfisher plc, who managed to design, order, and deliver a new kitchen on the day of the volunteering after it was deemed irreparable!!! We were in awe at how quickly and professionally they all operated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all involved for their remarkable efforts and contributions.

Residents are so happy with their new kitchen and are especially fond of their new kitchen bench.  They told SSJ Support Worker, Simon, that they are now looking forward to cooking and using the kitchen for the Christmas Dinner and celebrations. Simon said, “Improvement of spaces, made possible by organisations such as B&Q, is so incredibly important to both resident and staff morale”.

Lynn told us, “The whole team was so pleased to have been able to put their DIY skills to good use and in particular, to have been able to upgrade SSJ’s kitchen. Our head office and store colleagues have been rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty nationwide, to help over 300 local projects. For our Commercial team, it was great for us to be able to help out SSJ again.”  

Almost 300 charities will get the same help across the country, with thousands of B&Q staff pitching in. Paul Crisp, Retail and Property Director at B&Q said, “We support the communities we work in and local charities all through the year with fundraising and product donations, but in September we give an extra push and get our hands dirty. When I visit our stores around the country there’s always a great buzz about the volunteering projects. As the biggest home improvement retailer in the UK, it’s important to me personally that we use our size and scale to give back.”