Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.
  • 112
    children and young people directly supported
  • 179
    volunteers engaged
  • 41
    bedrooms decorated through DACL
Data from July 2022 - December 2023

Introduction

Decorate A Child’s Life (DACL) is The Childhood Trust’s housing support programme that redecorates disadvantaged children's bedrooms, as well as local youth clubs and community centres children rely on for support. The purpose of the programme is to provide children living in substandard accommodation with safe environments where they can learn, play, and grow.

Renovation projects are designed by The Childhood Trust’s pro bono interior design team at Katharine Pooley and completed in one day by either a group of corporate volunteers or a team of professionals from Nirvana Maintenance.

Corporate Volunteering

The DACL programme's volunteering opportunities are reserved exclusively for our corporate partners - companies that make financial contributions to our core work.

  • Corporate groups will spend the volunteer day painting, carrying out small repairs, and assembling flat pack furniture to give a child’s bedroom or a local youth centre a full makeover.
  • Redecoration projects are completed by the volunteers in one day (9.30am - 5.30pm).
  • Redecoration projects can accommodate groups of 4 – 10 volunteers.

Project Photos

Drag
Sheet over window
Pink decorated window
bedbunk in bedroom
Decorated bedroom
Bedroom with painted walls
set up in room to decorate
decorated room

"The children were absolutely ecstatic with the results! They could not wait to get into their beds and play with their toys in their rooms. Your support has helped make mum's life whole again."

Support Worker (Referral Partner)

Access Support

The DACL programme operates two different support services for families and children living in substandard accommodation:

Bedroom Redecorations 

This service renovates and redecorates dilapidated bedrooms for children and young people. During redecoration projects, The Childhood Trust’s team will paint the walls of the bedroom, make small repairs, and provide brand new furniture. All equipment, materials, and furniture needed for the redecorations are sourced by the programme and delivered to the families’ homes prior to the installations.  

 

Referrals

For bedroom redecorations: We accept referrals from support workers, social workers, schools, and charities who are already working closely with a family. We require all referral partners to consent to support the family through this process. This includes attending a site visit with a member of our team to meet the family. 

Our programme involves us bringing a team of volunteers to redecorate children’s bedrooms. We like to provide support for all children in a home when we do this. The redecoration includes: 

·         Painting 

·         New furniture 

·         Bedding 

·         Curtains / blinds 

 

To make a referral to our Decorate a Child’s Life programme, please click here and complete the form. 

The Childhood Trust thanks the B&Q Foundation for generously sponsoring this programme.

We also thank Katharine Pooley and Nirvana Maintenance for supporting the programme with pro-bono services.