Leading public sector and new build door and window supplier Nationwide Windows & Doors is extremely proud to have been involved in the renovation work at specialist centre for children with motor disorders, Steps – work which has now been completed, to the benefit of both children and staff.
A registered charity, the Steps Conductive Education Centre provides specialist nursery services and support so that the children it helps – and their families – are able to lead fuller, more active lives.
On-site staff are on hand to provide practical advice for each individual child and demonstrate to parents how everything learnt in the nursery can be transferred into the home situation.
This unique service is dependent upon the financial support of sponsors and donors, and the building itself used to get very cold due to the inefficient windows in place. This can not only have a detrimental effect on the wellbeing of families and staff, but also contribute to the high running costs, with heating bills being very high to combat heat loss and drafts.
Nationwide’s journey with Steps began last year at the inaugural BCEMA Awards – hosted by Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) – where the company revealed its intention to supply and fit new windows worth £10,000. The old, single glazed, steel frame windows have now been completely replaced with fully efficient double glazed PVC-U models, with work completing just after Christmas, in time for a celebratory party, featuring children’s favourite, Mr Tumble.
Trish Edwards, Steps Centre Manager explains:
“We have always loved the building, but the windows used to let all the heat out. Words cannot express how grateful we are, following a combination of months of hard work where we’ve planned and the guys have worked tirelessly over Christmas in the bad weather. I now find I’m always turning the heating down instead of up.”
Pete Smith, Managing Director at EEM adds:
“I’m so immensely proud of what has been achieved from last year at the awards, where Nationwide was instrumental in raising funds for the centre. At the end of the night, the charity’s patron, Rosemary Conley, was delighted to receive a surprise donation from the company for new windows worth £10,000, and the finished article is absolutely amazing.”
Adrian Pavey, Commercial Director at Nationwide Windows concludes:
“We have always had a great working relationship with EEM, and real sense of corporate responsibility when it comes to the communities in which we live and work, so we were honoured to be involved with the refurbishment of the Steps Centre. It’s well documented that old windows can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of a building’s occupants, even down to how they feel about themselves, so it was an easy decision to do our bit to help this remarkable local charity.”
