NOVAS CEO, Michael Goulding praises stunning makeover completed at Novas’ DIAL House for young Care Leavers with DFS, Gaisce and Roisin Lafferty Designer

Over the past few months, DFS, the sofa retailer, has funded a project to bring together its charity partner Gaisce and DFS Brand Ambassador, Interiors expert Roisin Lafferty of Kingston Lafferty Design to give NOVAS’ DIAL House, a residential home for young care leavers, a fresh look, which really mirrors a family home environment.

Michael Goulding, NOVAS CEO said ‘I would like to commend all of those who have worked together to make this makeover a reality. Thanks to NOVAS and the young people in DIAL House for their enthusiasm for the project, Gaisce participant and Limerick student, Will O’Callaghan who worked with designers Kingston Lafferty Design to make DIAL house a home away from home. It is great to see businesses taking responsibility in the local community so thanks to sofa retailers DFS for funding the makeover”.

DFS Brand Ambassador and KLD Director, Roisin Lafferty said “I feel very passionately that where you live really impacts on your mood and how you feel, so I’m really excited about what we have achieved together with this makeover project. NOVAS Limerick offer an invaluable service to the community of Limerick. Homelessness is a cause very close to my heart. I am honoured to be able to aid such an important charity and to work with the young people here who live at DIAL House, Will O’Callaghan, a talented young designer and Gaisce Awardee, DFS and my team at Kingston Lafferty Design to make this house somewhere even more special.” she said.

DIAL House is a life-changing service, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year and is run by NOVAS, the largest provider of homeless services in the Mid-West region. An extraordinary six-bed residential facility, it accommodates care leavers who are at risk of homelessness. Residents are all aged between 18 and 25. Most of the estimated 100 plus young people who have passed through its doors in the past ten years have not been given the easiest start in life. The service was set up to “mirror a home environment and not an institution” after identifying an urgent need in Limerick to develop a specialised service for young care leavers. It also offers an outreach service for young people living in the community who are at risk of homelessness. In the last decade, DIAL House and outreach service has supported more than 200 young people.

John Kelly, DFS Ireland Manager said “I am very impressed with the work being done by NOVAS with young care leavers in Limerick . DFS is honoured to have funded this great makeover at DIAL House. We have been part of the fantastic Limerick community for eighteen months and have happily supplied sofas to hundreds of homes throughout the Mid-West Region. We truly understand the benefits of a comfortable home and so giving back to the city, in this way, has been a privilege. We have really enjoyed working with local business including Richard Burke Kitchen Design, James Clery Flooring, Best Tile, Fleetwood Paints, and Reon Technologies who have worked with us in making this a reality.”

Gaisce Awardee Will O’Callaghan, a Ard Scoil Ris pupil said. “I am seriously considering a career in Architecture or Interior design and have really enjoyed this opportunity to work with the very successful Roisin Lafferty in remodelling DIAL House.”

NOVAS is thrilled to be associated with this event with CEO Michael Goulding stating that: “We try to provide homes for families and single people every day. We are extremely grateful to DFS, Roisin Lafferty and local young man Will O’Callaghan of Gaisce for working with the great gang of young people who live here to make this truly a home. It is a privilege to mark 10 years of Dial House with this great redecoration.”

You can view the DIAL makeover video here: http://www.ilovelimerick.ie/2017/novas-dial-house-makeover/rsz_dfs_dial_house_makeover_005/