A St Mungo's care home in Islington for people affected by homelessness has reopened its doors after a transformative refurbishment delivered by volunteers from delivery consultants and construction specialists Mace.

The six-week project, led by 46 Mace volunteers, saw the complete redesign and re-furnishing of the home's communal areas, all carried out while the 29-bed facility continued to support residents.

The initiative began in 2023 when the Mace Foundation and two Mace architects first visited the site. Their vision was to design a psychologically-informed, dementia-friendly environment, working closely with residents to select furniture and colour schemes for the library, arts and crafts room, dining and living spaces, staff offices and the main entrance.

Construction work began at the end of 2024 and was completed in January 2025, with volunteers contributing a total of 523 hours. The refurbishment was supported by £30,000 in donated materials from Mace’s supply chain.

-- Advertisement --

To mark the reopening, a ceremony was held this week attended by the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jason Jackson, and Deputy Mayor of Camden, Councillor Tricia Leman, alongside Mace representatives, St Mungo's staff and residents.

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."

Mark Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of The Mace Foundation, added: "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."