Luciana Berger, MP of Liverpool Wavertree, visited the team at B&Q Liverpool Shopping Park, the retailer’s newest store. Whilst there, Ms Berger helped mark 10 months of B&Q’s partnership with the housing and homeless charity Shelter, by taking part in a home improvement workshop, alongside local residents who use the charity’s services.
Paul Tym, unit manager of B&Q Liverpool Shopping Park, hosted the visit introducing Ms Berger to long-serving colleagues and those in the apprenticeship programme. Paul also highlighted the new areas that had been introduced when the store launched in June 2017, including a dazzling kitchens and bathrooms showroom, the Click ‘n’ Collect area and the new TradePoint tradebox.
Paul Tym, Unit Manager of B&Q Liverpool Shopping Park says: “We were delighted to welcome Luciana to our new B&Q store today. It has been a fantastic opportunity to show her around and introduce her to the new generation of colleagues as well as the long-serving team members who have worked both here and in our old Edge Lane store for nearly 30 years. “
Once the tour was over, Luciana Berger MP attended a DIY workshop, where, alongside Shelter service users, she learned how to prepare and paint walls and hang wallpaper. The workshop was led by Peter Halfpenny, B&Q’s Help & Advice manager, and Jo Cutler, Manager for Shelter.
A recent study by the charity revealed that 26% of private renters here in the Northwest felt that being able to decorate was what turned their house into a home, making it easier to put down roots and stay in one place for the long-term. As part of the partnership, B&Q is funding a team of six specialist Shelter DIY advisers located across the country to work with people at risk of losing their home, as well as those settling into a new home following a period of homelessness. The retailer also supports Shelter’s front-line services which provide essential advice and support online, by phone and face-to-face.
When asked about her day Luciana Berger MP said: “I know how important retail is to this area and I will always support businesses such as B&Q, which not only provide jobs but essential products and advice that help people create good homes. The work that Shelter does in the whole Merseyside area is incredible and I wish them and B&Q the best of luck with their DIY Advisor programme.”
Shelter Merseyside manager Jo Cutler added: “Today has been a great success. B&Q and their customers have raised more than £300,000 for Shelter in the last year, and this has helped fund our vital front-line services, which means we’ve helped more people on Merseyside facing bad housing and homelessness.”
Each person who attended the workshop went away with a toolbox full of useful B&Q items everyone needs for a home improvement project, including a spirit level, set of screwdrivers, paintbrushes, wallpapering kit, tape measure and hammer.