The bathroom at Tauranga Women's Refuge has had a much-needed makeover, thanks to help from local tradies and the Thorne Group.

Refuge manager Angela Warren-Clark says the renovation has made the safe house much warmer and more inviting for families.

'The Thorne Group came on board midway through last year, when we started the conversation with Tauranga City Council about upgrading the bathroom and how that would work,” says Angela.

Tauranga City Council owns the property the safe house is on, and leases it to Women's Refuge.

Angela says the refuge has a separate shower room and a separate toilet room, but the bathroom is valuable for children as it has a bath in it. But it was in a ‘pretty poor state'.

'I'm sure you can imagine what it's like with ten women and children in the whare at any one point,” she says. 'When our families come to the safe house we like to welcome them with a clean and tidy house – as warm and welcoming as possible. The bathroom wasn't cutting it though.”

She says doors were falling off and wear and tear was showing in the space, prompting the partnership with the Thorne Group to do a complete renovation.

Thorne Group director Aaron Thorne, upon seeing the old bathroom, agrees it was ‘well and truly overdue' for an upgrade.

'We took care of all the health and safety aspects and the council's requirements. We were more than happy to take the hassle away and help out for a great cause.”

Aaron organised a number of local tradespeople who all offered their services and supplies for free.

He estimates the renovation, which took around three weeks, to have cost somewhere in the vicinity of $15,000 - $20,000.

'However, it didn't cost the refuge or the council anything,” he says.

Angela is thrilled with the result, and what it means for the refuge.

'One of the things we say to the women, who often come in bruised and battered, is to go in and have a wonderful soak in the tub and just relax,” she says.

'It's all part of supporting families affected by violence.”

Subcontractors

• Gerrand Floorings
• Tilemax Tauranga Guild
• Spence Electrical
• Bell Plumbing Ltd – Free labour and Materials
• Chris Phillips - Interior plasterer
• ITM – Gib Aqualine, timber and hardware
• Leanne @ Gerrand – Supply and Lay vinyl floor.
• Premiere shower- Supply and install new 900x900 shower
• Guild and Spence – Electrical
• Matt Black tiling – Labour to bath and surround
• Tile Max – Bath Tiles
• Chesters Plumbing – Vanity, mixers, tap, bath and shower slide
• H.K Kitchens – New Towel storage cupboard
• Interior Painter: Adam Dromgool and Anthony Blair
• Euroglass Tauranga
• Prestige Home Groomers