Homeless charity Crisis is urgently appealing for MDF and softwood to help provide a series of shelters across London this Christmas.
Crisis will open six shelters in the capital between December 23-30 and needs help from the timber trade to transform a range of redundant buildings into warm, homely places for about 1,500 people during the festive season.
Top of Crisis’ wanted list are 18mm MDF and skilled carpenters, who are being asked to donate a day or two of their time.
Softwood for stud walls and plywood are also needed, as well as paint, carpet and furniture.
Companies which donate time and materials will be thanked publicly in adverts which Crisis will place in the Financial Times around Christmas.
Crisis spokesperson Mick Bateman said: “We’ve had a quite a lot of carpenters offering their services and about 200 sheets of MDF so far. But we need more, especially 18mm MDF and CLS.”
Volunteer organisation Architecture for Humanity has recruited about 30 architects, including one from leading practice Foster & Partners, to work on the project.
The architects have designed modular solutions, which can be flat-packed and used again, for the shelters in Farringdon, Moorgate, the Old Kent Road, Deptford, Brixton and on the Isle of Dogs.
Buildings hosting the temporary shelters include offices, an old school building, a warehouse and concert venue the London Arena, which is due to be demolished.
