Windows for a Warmer Warehouse

Aim

To replace 3+ draughty inefficient windows in our meeting room, saving energy & funds for the many green & social groups that use the space.

About us

We're an environmental organisation (Community Benefit Society) campaigning to create a fairer and more sustainable Birmingham. We empower others to take action, we hold decision-makers to account on climate change, waste, nature and clean air, and we make sure environmental justice is at the heart of everything we do. We also operate an environmental community building to host activities that meet our aims, including office and retail space, meeting rooms and a permaculture garden. Our meeting space is heavily discounted for small and unfunded organisations and used by a very diverse range of activist and community groups. It's a friendly, inspiring and much loved place with a long history. Testimonials below.

"The Muslim Women's Network UK have been residents of The Warehouse for many years. It is a welcoming and friendly space which has been our 'work home' as we've grown. Its central location and option of additional meeting rooms has meant that we have been able to comfortably accommodate our guests from across the country."

"The Warehouse is in the city centre, easy to get to, but on a quiet street, with its own lockable cycle storage locker and a shower. I love sharing the space with like-minded people and organisations. It's easy to catch up with activists in the environment and co-operative movements over a cup of fair-trade coffee."

We need...

We need to replace three poor, draughty windows in our meeting rooms, which provide a vital service for climate activists, refugee groups, domestic violence & homeless support groups, green coops & national charities. The stretch target enables replacement of three more windows in our busy shared offices used by eight non-profit organisations.

A refurbishment in 2017, funded by a community share issue, made great improvements to our energy efficiency (as well as ensuring wheelchair access throughout) but these last windows are now our 'weak link' at a time of climate urgency & high energy costs. A recent energy focus group for the building's community identified these as top priority. Two of the windows are at risk of failure due to their poor condition.

Why crowdfunding?

We have worked hard to secure £3,000 of the funds needed to replace these windows, but due to Covid and the energy crisis our surpluses don't stretch to the whole cost, so we're seeking to crowdfund at least £2,200; or ideally more to replace a further three windows. Funds raised through this crowdfunder will enable us to complete this project while keeping our costs low enough for the groups we want to serve. Donations will be MATCHED up to £250 per donor, by Aviva Community Fund!

The funds will be spent on purchasing and fitting sustainability-certified timber window frames with energy efficient glazing.

Our stretch target is £5,000. If we make this stretch target or part of it, we will also replace the "top office" windows (our big shared office) and/or the window in a further office currently hosting Volunteering Matters. This would enable us to really 'catch up' on the maintenance and improvement backlog we built up over the pandemic.

We understand these are difficult times and there are some literally life-saving causes to support out there, so we are only promoting this to known friends and contacts of The Warehouse to contribute if they feel they can - though anyone is welcome! We're happy to answer any questions. Thank you so much for considering this.

And from our community....

"African Rainbow supports your bid for new windows. We currently use the space directly opposite the window and to ensure it is a warm, safe and secure environment for our service users it is essential we can keep the place warm this winter with double glazing windows. We need to continue to hold a inviting and friendly atmosphere so we can reduce isolation this winter and improve the mental health and well being of our service users."

- Refugee Advocacy Assistant, Birmingham - African Rainbow Family

"We can't open the windows properly at the moment and this has caused our volunteers to become very hot during summer. This meant there were times when we had to cancel our meetings. In the winter the windows are drafty, making the room cold. This can pose a problem for volunteers with health conditions. New windows would allow us to keep our volunteers cool in the summer and warm in the winter allowing us to continue with planned activities. We currently have volunteers that require accessible entrances, anything that can be done to make their access into the building easier would be greatly appreciated."

- Libby Harris, on behalf of the voluntary BFOE campaigns group

"A warmer and more climate-friendly building will help keep down the rent and service charges for our offices as well as helping to sustain both our organisation, the other tenants and Friends of the Earth Birmingham, who are our landlords. This will mean that we can devote more of our income to help our service users, who are people with an asbestos related disease. These diseases are always life changing and often terminal. We are taking other measures to reduce our carbon footprint, (e.g. commuting by train and cutting down on home visits to patients) but keep heating costs down is also very important."

- Asbestos Support Central England

This project successfully funded on 23rd May 2023