A GROUP of young homeless people in Stroud received help to redecorate their own bedrooms in supported housing accommodation.

Property maintenance and refurbishment specialist Novus Property Solutions continues its work in the community, having helped a group of young homeless people in Stroud to gain the skills to makeover their bedrooms.

Stoke-on-Trent-based firm Novus, which has an ongoing partnership with social business Bromford, had been contracted by the group to internally redecorate Ark House – a supported housing centre for young people.

Ark House’s young customers were invited to take part in the redecoration, also carried out in partnership with Dulux Trade, so they could gain skills and experience to take into the world of training and employment.

After painters and decorators from Novus mentored the youngsters, they painted their own space at Ark House as part of a competition.

One youngster, Kirsty Rule, won an iPad prize for her efforts, after she was judged by Novus on her attitude to the work, the neatness of her painting and good working practices.

Regional operations manager for Novus, Andy Woodhouse, said: “We are delighted to be able to make this happen through our working relationship with Bromford and its customers.

“When we were contracted to redecorate the scheme, we agreed to provide support wherever we could to help change people’s lives for the better.

“Corporate Social Responsibility is core to our business activities and this initiative highlights how importantly we take it.”

Resident Kirsty, 17, said: “The painters were good teachers, even though they had a job to do they still took the time to provide advice and mentor us in redecorating our own rooms.

“Before, I would have rated my room a zero out of ten, but now it has been redecorated I would give it a ten out of ten.

“This whole experience has been positive and an eye opener and I would even consider a job as a painter now.”

Alexis Brooks, Ark House scheme manager, said: “This is about making Ark House more than just temporary accommodation for our residents, giving them a home and a place to be proud of for as long as they are here.

“We support them to make changes to their lives and they can now leave their own legacy when they move on to better things.”

Duncan Lochhead, commercial marketing manager at Dulux Trade, said: “Redecorating can really transform a living space.

“We hope the young people at Ark House get a sense of what’s possible as they brighten up their rooms.

“Thanks to Novus and Bromford for letting us help out on this project.”