Background:

Norwood is a widely recognised UK charity, founded in 1795 known as the oldest Jewish charity and has been under royal patronage since 1815. They work to help support neurodiverse children and their families as well as individuals with learning difficulties to live their best lives, based in London and the South-East. Closely working with local authorities by delivering a variety of services which include residential and supported living accommodation for these vulnerable families.

Acorn has supported Norwood to achieve their goal of improving their overall safety levels by providing safe and adequate general and emergency lighting to the Berkshire homes. Whilst simultaneously lowering the overall energy costs and the carbon footprint. Acorn has proudly partnered with Norwood for over five years, demonstrating a sustained commitment to their mission.

Services Delivered:

Throughout this project key services have been addressed, to improve the quality of life for the residents on the Ravenswood campus:

• Lighting Upgrades in the Berkshire Homes.
• Four homes on the Ravenswood Campus received new general and emergency lighting installations
• Traditional battery bank-based emergency lighting, relying on florescent lighting, has a high failure rate and high energy usage, making it crucial to future-proof homes.
• The homes were surveyed and costs submitted to the client, design stages matched client’s needs for compliance and aesthetics
• The lighting was replaced in each home in within budget and on schedule

Problem: Main Challenge?

Norwood’s Ravenswood Campus, housing several residential homes, faced challenges with its aging lighting infrastructure. Traditional fluorescent lighting systems presented high energy consumption, frequent failures, and compromised safety particularly in emergency situations. Introducing a reliable, energy-efficient solution to create a warm and comfortable environment was needed. However, recognising that these homes are occupied by vulnerable families. The aim was to complete the project with minimal disruption to the residents whilst installing brand-new lighting in these homes. It is essential to have a trusted partner with both technical expertise and a deep understanding of the unique requirements within residential care settings.

Examples: The Solution

Acorn successfully facilitated seamless communication and collaboration between the residential homes, subcontractors, and our team. By maintaining a proactive and transparent approach, we ensured that the parties were aligned throughout the project. As a result, the project progressed smoothly without disruptions, meeting all quality standards and regulatory requirements. The works were not only delivered on time but also within the agreed budget, demonstrating Acorn’s strong commitment to cost-effective and high-quality service delivery. This project leveraged Acorn’s proven track record in delivering tailored solutions for vulnerable individuals, encompassing:

• Sensitivity Training & Resident-Centric Approach: Acorn’s team underwent specific training to ensure they understood the needs of residents, minimising disruption and prioritising their comfort.
• Detailed Site Survey & Resident Needs Assessment: A thorough assessment of each home, with input from care staff, to understand specific needs and sensitivities of residents.
• Customised Design Lighting: Development of lighting designs that balanced compliance, aesthetics, and energy efficiency, including consideration of residents needs where applicable.
• LED Lighting Installation & Phased Approach: Replacement of traditional fluorescent lighting with modern, energy-efficient LED panels, implemented in phases to minimise disruption to residents’ routines.
• Emergency Lighting Upgrade & Fail-Safe Systems: Transition from unreliable battery bank-based emergency lighting to a robust, future-proof system with fail-safe mechanisms, ensuring continuous safety.
• Seamless Project Management & Constant Communication: Close collaboration with Norwood staff, regular updates, and proactive problem-solving to ensure smooth project execution.

Key Results:

Enhanced Safety & Resident Well-being: Improved general and emergency lighting significantly enhanced safety levels and created a more comfortable living environment for residents.

Energy Efficiency & Sustainability: Transitioning to LED lighting resulted in an average energy saving of 57%, demonstrating Acorn’s commitment to sustainable solutions.

Cost Savings & Resource Optimisation: Reduced energy consumption translated into significant cost savings, allowing Norwood to allocate resources to other essential care services.

Project Success & Minimal Disruption: All four homes were completed within budget and on schedule, with minimal disruption to residents’ daily lives.

Strong Partnership & Ongoing Trust: Acorn’s proactive approach, sensitivity, and collaborative spirit reinforced the ongoing partnership with Norwood.

Demonstrated Expertise in Care Homes: This project further solidifies Acorn’s reputation as a reliable and trusted partner for residential care facilities.

Overall Conclusion:

The dedicated team at Acorn ensures this contract is managed efficiently and proactively, fostering a strong and trusted partnership with Norwood. Acorn’s successful lighting upgrade project at Norwood Ravenswood is a testament to their expertise in delivering high-quality, energy-efficient solutions for residential care. Delivering our core mission to provide exceptional facilities management services across residential homes.

Project Delivery: Completed on schedule – Including all 4 Homes on the Ravenswood Campus.

Ongoing Relationship: Acorn’s strong, trusted relationship enables ongoing collaboration, including fire lighting upgrades to street lighting across the campus. These improvements further enhance energy savings, safety, and security. Norwood can rely on Acorn’s continued support, knowing they have a dependable partner to help them uphold their commitment.

Contact us today to discuss how Acorn can provide tailored facilities management solutions for your residential care facility, ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of your residents.