Care home re-opens after £200,000 Mace Foundation refurbishment
An Islington care home for people affected by homelessness has re-opened its doors after a major refurbishment by volunteers from delivery consultants and construction experts, Mace.
The project included a full re-design and re-furnishing of the care home’s communal spaces, with 46 Mace volunteers completing the work across six weeks while the service continued to support residents.
The Mace Foundation and two of Mace’s architects first visited the care home in 2023 to begin designing a new psychologically-informed, dementia-friendly space. Their redesign included all communal areas including the library, arts and crafts room, dining and living spaces, entrance, and staff office. Residents contributed to the design, choosing wall colours and furniture.
The works began at the end of 2024 and were completed in January 2025, with Mace employees providing 523 hours of voluntary work. Mace contractors also provided £30,000 worth of materials.
This week, the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jason Jackson, attended a ceremony to celebrate the re-opening alongside Deputy Mayor of Camden, Councillor Tricia Leman, representatives from Mace, St Mungo’s staff and residents of the 29-bed care home.
Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said:
“On behalf of my colleagues and the residents here in Islington, I want to say a huge thank you to Mace and The Mace Foundation for making this incredible refurbishment of our care home possible.
“This is not just a beautiful building but a home for our residents. Mace’s generous refurbishment has helped make it even more comfortable and welcoming for them.
“St Mungo’s supports people affected by homelessness at every stage of their journey, from the crisis point of rough sleeping right through to finding long-term accommodation. Our care home is just one example of the many compassionate ways we help people leave the cycle of homelessness behind for good.
“As this refurbishment shows, we can achieve amazing things when we work together. I look forward to collaborating with our partners in the future to continue improving the lives of people affected by homelessness.”
His Worship The Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jason Jackson said:
“It’s been an honour to visit St Mungo’s care home and see first-hand the incredible work they do to support some of Islington’s most vulnerable residents.
“Homelessness is an urgent issue in our community, and services like this provide a place of safety, dignity and healing. It’s fantastic to see the compassion, commitment and collaboration of St Mungo’s, Mace and everyone involved in this refurbishment. Together, we are showing what it means to build a borough – and a society – that truly cares for everyone.”
Mark Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of The Mace Foundation, said:
“It’s inspiring to see how the dedication of Mace employees and our supply chain partners has positively impacted St Mungo’s care home.
“The redesigned layout of several communal rooms in this listed building was thoughtfully planned and delivered in line with PIE (Psychologically Informed Environment) principles. These changes have helped create a more homely and welcoming atmosphere for long-term residents, including those living with mental health challenges or dementia.
“Mace and the Mace Foundation are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. We understand the value of pro bono work for charities and, with the generous support of our supply chain, have delivered over £300,000 worth of projects for St Mungo’s.”
The service in Islington is one of two CQC-registered care homes run by St Mungo’s. It offers a unique level of support for older men with complex needs who have experienced homelessness.
Residents are provided with long-term accommodation and support for their mental and physical health conditions including dementia, as well as substance use support.
The refurbishment comes as homelessness remains consistently high in the UK. Last autumn, 83,800 households faced homelessness across England.