Curtain Bank Needs More Curtain Donations Before Winter is Over
Wellington Curtain Bank is asking for the community’s support to meet demand for curtains for low-income homes this
winter.
Each year, more than 550 families with a Community Services Card ask for the free, lined curtains provided by Wellington
Curtain Bank.
“We need more curtains donated before the end of winter, to ensure we have enough to go around,” says Healthy Homes
Manager Miranda Struthers.
Wellington Curtain Bank is supported by Sustainability Trust, a social enterprise supporting people to create warmer,
healthier homes and reduce their impact on the environment.
The Curtain Bank upcycles curtains from donated fabric and curtains, tailoring them to snugly fit a person’s windows,
and lining them to make them more effective at keeping heat in and cold out.
“It’s a small action that can make a big difference to the home,” says Struthers.
Many of the families who request curtains from the Curtain Bank are living in rentals, so have limited control over the
warmth of their home. Many rental homes are poorly insulated and without fixed heating.
Although there are insulation subsidies available from the Government for landlords till the end of June 2018 (and
legislation for landlords to insulate their properties by July 2019) landlords have been slow to upgrade properties.
“We’re working hard to advocate for better national housing standards, encouraging landlords to upgrade their rental
homes and supporting tenants and landlords to access any finance or subsidies available.
“In the meantime, curtains are something the tenant can do right now. We’re happy to provide that service with the
ongoing support of so many generous Wellingtonians.”
Donations of clean, mould-free curtains can be made at Sustainability Trust’s EcoCentre in Forresters Lane (off Tory
St), or there are drop off points in Kilbirnie, Lower Hutt, Porirua and Otaki. See www.sustaintrust.org.nz/curtainbank for more details.
People can also support the Curtain Bank by volunteering their time.
ENDS