Leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad Radiators has a good track record of helping worthy causes by donating a few radiators to projects where a new or replacement heating system is required to keep those the charity seeks to help and the volunteers who offer the help, warm in chillier months of the year with a reliable and high-quality heating output.
The latest charity to benefit from a radiator donation is the Simon Community Scotland in Glasgow and Stelrad’s Business Development Manager for Scotland, Tom McGrory, recently met Hannah Boyle, the Women’s Centre Development Lead at The Connect Hub to find out more about the help the recent radiator donation has provided.
Hannah manages this no appointment required ‘pop in’ centre. This centre supports local women – sometimes with young children in tow – who may be homeless, and facing very difficult circumstances. It was quite harrowing listening to Hannah’s stories relating to women using this centre as a safe place to escape from the horrible situations they find themselves in. A real eye opener of an experience for Tom.
Hannah was delighted with the radiators delivered for them, and she mentioned that the temperature maintained within the centre made it a very comfortable place for both her and the local community to spend time in.
The Connect Hub is a beautiful space specifically designed to connect with the people the charity supports and the agencies they work with, but more than that, it is a place where people from a vast array of services come together to make things happen. The Connect Hub creates an opportunity for solutions to be found quickly, collectively and effectively. Partnership working is at the heart of what has already been the incredible achievements in delivering outcomes from people – from life changing to life saving. The Connect Hub represents the best of partnership working within a values driven and person to person approach.
The Connect Hub is a uniquely formed space that has reshaped services and their impact for women at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Glasgow. Psychologically informed, the design creates a safe, engaging and welcoming community space for women to connect with over 20 different services in one single space. Working with over 30 women presenting every day, the Connect Hub intends to provide life changing support for women to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, provide connection and respond to and prevent homelessness.
Tom was initially contacted by Andy Rafferty, Solution Development Manager – Jewson Partnership Solutions. Andy reached out asking if Stelrad could support the Simon Community by donating some compact radiators to help them heat this new support hub in the centre of Glasgow. Andy also reached out to furniture suppliers, bathroom suppliers, flooring suppliers, electrical suppliers and many more. The radiators were delivered via George Boyd, 300 Crownpoint Rd, Glasgow (part of the Jewson Group) and were installed free of charge by one of the local heating companies involved with the charity.
“The Connect Hub has transformed the work we are able to do here in Glasgow and everyone involved here is grateful to Stelrad and all the companies out there who have chipped in to get the centre up and running and operating efficiently to help people in Glasgow who need the kind of support we can offer,” says Hannah. “The centre has been developed with the community at its heart. The Connect Hub is a safe space for women to access support and opportunities for growth, development and connection – all vital for people who may be facing real difficulty at the time they reach out to us for help.”
For more information on the Simon Community and the Connect Hub head for www.simonscotland.org. For more information on the wide range of reliable, high- quality radiators available from Stelrad – head for www.stelrad.com/trade.
