Our Bright Street Laundry is a project which supports those who are unable to carry out the washing, drying and ironing of their clothes, bedding and curtains.
In addition, to enable us to keep the costs affordable for our social care clients we need to supplement the income with those who access our services for work such as ironing and we need to encourage those sporting groups, who after a hard session on the pitch, to bring their kits in to our laundry.
We need to ensure that the work keeps coming in so that we are continuing to support those most at need whilst securing sufficient income to support the running of the laundry. Over the last year we have done approximately 5000 jobs for 150 people - that's a lot of washing! To guarantee that we support those hard to reach clients in their own home, who for reasons of illness and disability are isolated, we have a collection and delivery service. Our collection service, as the laundry service itself, is invaluable in terms of increasing the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable residents in our community.
Our organisation supports volunteers in an environment where they play an active part in the laundry delivery service. The clients enjoy the regular visits by the team when collecting their washing. The service does not limit itself to just collecting and delivering the laundry but the workers have also collected prescriptions, bought groceries, changed light bulbs and hung curtains for the clients.
In supporting clients who are patients in hospital we developed a policy and have undertaken training for the protection of staff and volunteers involved in the handling and laundering of clothes from clients who may have an infectious condition.
We have made available special dissolvable bags which enables those most at need to have their soiled washing dealt with whilst at the same time protecting the health and safety of our workers. There is an excellent relationship between the staff, volunteers and clients; whether people are involved in delivery of the service or in receipt of the service they know they can be assured of first class support. We are very proud of our Bright Street Laundry.
