Wellington Curtain Bank achieves 520 warmer, healthier homes this winter

Published 15 November 2015

Free curtains to 520 Wellington families

All thanks to the Wellington Curtain Bank

Another 520 Wellington families have warmer, healthier homes thanks to Sustainability Trust’s Curtain Bank.

The Wellington Curtain Bank has provided free, fitted curtains to families around the region for the past six years. 

Using curtains donated by the Wellington public, this year has seen over 1600 pairs of curtains upcycled for eligible families, including many with children, elderly members or those suffering with housing related health issues.

“Well fitted and lined curtains make such a big difference to keeping your home warm and keeping you healthy,” says Curtain Bank Co-ordinator Shelali Shetty. 

Uncovered windows can lose four or five times as much heat as an uninsulated wall.  In cold and damp homes, family members can be more susceptible to serious illnesses, including rheumatic fever, respiratory illness, asthma, and skin conditions.

“Not all landlords provide curtains and for those families on tight budgets buying good quality, new curtains is simply unaffordable”.

Curtain recipient, Paulina Taaku Smith, says that her family has benefited greatly from the curtains she received through the Wellington Curtain Bank and would recommend the free service to her family and friends.

“My son, Irata, got admitted to ICU twice, with bronchiolitis. The house was too cold”. Since getting new curtains from the Wellington Curtain Bank, she says, “It’s quite warm. He hasn’t been sick again.”

Another happy Curtain Bank client, John Fanning says, “I did not expect them to be of such high quality, and to be so well made, and fitting the dimensions of the windows in my lounge so well. Since hanging them the room has been a lot warmer with fewer draughts.”

Sustainability Trust’s Curtain Bank is generously supported by Genesis Energy and also Wellington Community Trust and relies on a steady supply of donated, used curtains.

A dedicated team – including 12 volunteers – tailor the second-hand stock to fit each home, with added lining to help ensure homes can be kept warm and dry.

“Its great news that the new tenancy laws will require minimum insulation standards for rental homes, but we should also be aware of the massive heat loss that occurs through windows,” says Shelali Shetty.

“Providing curtains closes that gap.”

The Curtain Bank is now closed for the summer and will reopen in April 2016 to service families in need for another year.

Curtain donations are gratefully received year-round at Sustainability Trust’s EcoCentre, 2 Forresters Lane, Tory Street, Wellington.  

Photo: Curtain Bank coordinator Shelali Shetty (r) with client Paulina Taaku Smith (l) and her daughter, Kasaemita (age 2)