Bell Provides Paint and Training to Fresh Start

 

Bell Returns to Fresh Start to Support Fresh Rooms

 

Bell first visited Fresh Start in August 2025, volunteering in the charity’s warehouse and learning more about the wide range of services that help people move on from homelessness. Bell became aware of Fresh Start via the ESES Communities Portal and was keen to get involved to add value to their contract with the University of Edinburgh, a key stakeholder in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Regional Deal.

During their visit, the team discovered Fresh Rooms, Fresh Start’s painting and decorating service, and were inspired by the difference it makes to people settling into permanent accommodation.

 

 

Fresh Rooms supports individuals and families who have recently moved into a new home by helping transform tired, stained or damaged rooms into welcoming living spaces. Working alongside tenants, volunteers and coordinators help plan, prepare and redecorate up to two rooms, creating environments that feel clean, comfortable and personal.

Turning Inspiration into Action

As one of the UK's largest property services contractors, Bell is committed to investing in local communities and creating meaningful social value through its work. After learning about Fresh Rooms, the team began exploring how to leverage their expertise and industry connections to strengthen the programme and increase its impact.

Supporting Fresh Starts

Through Bell's Asset Management Edinburgh University Branch, and with the generous support of supplier Crown Paints, Bell donated 642 litres of paint to Fresh Start. Each paint pack contains 10 litres of paint, which helps upgrade 64 new tenancies.

The donation will directly support the delivery of Fresh Rooms, ensuring more tenants have access to the materials needed to transform their new properties into homes. Whether working alongside Fresh Start volunteers or decorating independently through the charity's remote service, tenants will benefit from greater choice and the opportunity to personalise their living spaces.

Sharing Skills and Expertise

Bell's support did not stop with the donation. They then returned to Fresh Start to deliver a painting and decorating training session for volunteers, helping to build skills and confidence while enhancing the service offered to tenants.

By combining practical resources with professional expertise, Bell is helping Fresh Start increase its capacity and continue supporting people as they rebuild their lives after homelessness.

The donation of paint and the forthcoming volunteer training will help Fresh Start create more welcoming homes for people moving out of homelessness. By investing both resources and skills, Bell is supporting the charity's mission to help individuals establish stability, confidence and a positive new beginning in their communities.

 

This is what Jen McQuistan from Fresh Start had to say:

"We have had fantastic support from The Bell Group over through volunteering, paint donations and their latest contribution was one of their professional decorators giving their time to do a painting demo/training session for our Fresh Rooms volunteers. It was a fantastic opportunity for our volunteers to pick up some tips and tricks of the trade, ask questions and learn the quickest, most effective ways to paint people's homes. Our Fresh Rooms team support people who have been homeless to paint and decorate their new homes and this paint demo helped them with confidence and skills to support more people across Edinburgh.

We are extremely grateful to everyone at The Bell Group for all the support they have given Fresh Start from volunteering with our services, to donating paint, to supporting with this painting demo session. Through Bell's support we are able to help even more vulnerable people across Edinburgh to settle into their new homes and provide them with the care and confidence they need to move forward with their lives. Thank You!"