Shelter's Christmas Appeal

Blue Door often has unusual, quirky properties, with super large unusual spaces that lend themselves to artists and makers. Because we support creatives we’re often approached by production companies who want to use our interior spaces for music videos, fashion shoots and even scenes for TV and film.

Recently we had the honour of collaborating with Academy Films to offer support for filming the Christmas appeal for Shelter, the Housing Charity. Here at Blue Door we stand by everything Shelter believes in and works towards, which is why we were extremely proud to have the opportunity to collaborate and offer the project location.

A Home is a Fundamental Right

Shelter is a fantastic charity helping people in housing by providing advice, assistance and tirelessly campaigning for better investment, laws and policies in the housing sector. Since 1966, Shelter has campaigned for safe and affordable homes for all.

Their 2022 Christmas appeal titled ‘Brave Face’ shines an honest and hard-hitting light on the reality of struggles that many families will be facing over the next few months. ‘Brave Face’ tells viewers the story of a typical day for a young boy at school who shows resilience by smiling through a series of events including failing a written test, being last in the school canteen queue and missing out on pudding, and letting a goal in during a kickabout. As his (bad) day ends, the young boy goes home to be with his Mum, where the viewers then see and realise that they’ll both be spending Christmas in a noisy, damp bedsit. The final poignant message of the appeal reads ‘No child should have to put on a brave face…but without a home, over 199,500 children do’.

Defend the Right to a Safe Home

The housing crisis affects people throughout the year, but this Christmas the cost of living crisis is making housing problems worse for 7 in10 callers to Shelter’s emergency helpline. Seventeen and a half million people are trapped by the housing emergency, and (1 in 5 renters say their home is damaging their physical or mental health.

We fully pledge our support to Shelter (we have chosen Shelter as one of our Christmas Charity donations this year) and would like to encourage you to do the same. You can donate to the charity here, or you can show your support by sharing their campaigns and spreading the appeal to ensure everyone has access to a safe home.

Shelter runs various events for people to get involved in such as book clubs and walks. Guess what? You can also organise your own event to help raise money, awareness and support Shelter.

Home is Everything

Our team at Blue Door are here to support you if you need any advice or assistance when it comes to affordable housing for key workers, working professionals and post graduates. We understand the importance and the necessity of having a safe and secure home and offer guardian opportunities if you meet our criteria. Please contact admin@bluedoorproperty guardians or phone us on 0207 859 4213.

Shelter - Brave Face

Directors - Si & Ad @si_ad_films

Agency - Don’t Panic @dontpanicldn

Property Guardian Testimonial - Sebastian Tipau-Tatarusanu

For a few years, I had been struggling to find a place of my own that I could afford and wouldn’t affect my budget. When I was looking online, I came across an advert to become a Property Guardian for Blue Door Property Guardians, which would allow me to live in a studio or a one bedroom flat.

After I registered to be a Property Guardian, my dreams came true. For the past year, I’ve been securing a one bedroom flat in Rickmansworth through Blue Door Property Guardians.

Due to a lower fee than the average rental asking prices, I was able to save more money and spend it on growing my skills, so I could better my career as a Plant Operator.

Along the way, I have met some very interesting people from a variety of cultures and made many friends.

I would recommend becoming a Property Guardian for Blue Door Property Guardians to professional individuals, who would like to climb a step in improving their life.

Sebastian Tipau-Tatarusanu

How to De-Stress at Home

Although many people don’t like to speak about it, stress is extremely common in multiple people’s everyday lives. Some may have a high stress tolerance whereas others may have a lower stress tolerance. The only difference is, some people may know how to relieve their stress whilst others struggle.

There are multiple factors that contribute to stress:

• Feeling under pressure or overwhelmed

• Constant worry

• Changes to your personal life or working life

• Having no control over a particular situation

• Taking on too much responsibility without leaving time for yourself

• Family and personal relationship issues

• Grief

…and of course, there are many more factors too.

Is stress normal?

Stress is completely normal and you’ll find that if you’re struggling with it, then you’re not alone.

In the body, we have adrenal glands. Adrenal glands create a hormone called cortisol, which is released when the body enters a ‘fight or flight’ mode - stress. When you’re experiencing a stressful event, the cortisol in the body increases to help battle paramount challenges.

Although stress is commonly experienced by everyone, it doesn’t mean that it’s healthy. Untreated stress can lead to an array of issues both mentally and physically, that will require more treatment.

What are the side-effects of stress?

There are different side effects of stress on the body, yet not a lot of people realise it.

• Headaches

• High blood pressure

• Heart problems

• Breathing problems

• Diabetes

• Digestive issues

• Muscle aches

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Sleep deprivation

These are only a few of the side-effects of stress, and there are a lot more.

How can you de-stress at home?

Helping to reduce your stress at home is completely possible, and there are many ways you can achieve this.

Mindfulness

Practising mindfulness helps you to gather awareness of your thoughts and feelings. Pick yourself a daily activity, and focus on being present for a few moments. The activity could be finding what you’re grateful for, focusing on breathing techniques or taking part in yoga.

Call someone you can rely on

Having a conversation with someone you can rely on, can help to decrease your stress levels. Your ‘support person’ can listen to your problems, reassure you and help you to unwind. Remember, a problem shared is a problem halved after all!

Exercise

When you exercise, you release endorphins that in a nutshell are feel-good chemicals. Exercising helps you to blow off steam, refocus your mind on what’s important, reground yourself back into reality and settle whatever thoughts may be intruding your mind. Also, fresh air is a wonderful thing!

Release your creativity

Being creative often requires a lot of focus, so this is a great way to divert your mind onto something more positive.

Do something you enjoy such as baking, cooking, painting and upcycling to give your mind a break. Let your mind float free!

Practice self-care

Self-care is super important because you’re looking after yourself! 

Self-care can be in the form of anything - a bubble bath, cooking your favourite meal, watching your favourite film or reading an indulgent book. We spend the majority of our time doing things for others such as working, caring or looking after a family if we have one, and rarely take that time out to have a breather for ourselves.

Be in the moment

This one may be easier said than done, but when you practise it it’s easier to maintain than you think.

Even though stress can happen when we’re building up emotions from a specific moment, a lot of it can fall on us looking in the past or towards the future. Being in the moment allows us to focus on what truly matters at that time, without being blinded by future possible stresses, or ones that have been and gone.

Here are just a few ways to help you reduce your stress levels and keep them at bay. Although there are ways to help reduce our stress, if it becomes unmanageable then please seek medical advice from your doctor.