Employ an Architect for just £40
Sign up for Architect in the House and help raise funds for Shelter
15 May 2012: Nationwide has supported Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity for 12 years, helping people across the UK who are homeless or who have housing needs. Not only do we provide funding to the charity, we also help by promoting some of Shelter’s campaigns to our members and employees.
Architect in the House, Shelter’s innovative fundraising partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), is now in its sixteenth successful year, and has generated over £1.2m for Shelter since its launch benefitting over 50,000 homeowners. Last year alone, the partnership raised more than £113,000 for Shelter’s important work. The scheme matches homeowners with RIBA chartered members for an hour’s consultation, in return for a suggested £40 donation to Shelter. In 2011, over 3,000 homeowners signed up for the opportunity to get their dream home with help from the experts.
You can sign up for a consultation via the website and you will be matched with an architect in your area. Whether you need inspiration for creating better living space, adding a bedroom, or planning a new-build project, an architect can help bring your ideas to life. RIBA chartered architects can also advise on planning, manage builders and suggest energy-saving options.
You can register to participate in the scheme until 11 July 2012. Participants will be matched with architects in the area and consultations can take place any time up to the end of November 2012. Once you have received your architect’s details you can contact them directly and make arrangements to meet at a mutually convenient time, providing the meeting takes place before 30 November 2012.
How your donation helps
Your donation will go towards Shelter’s work with children and families in desperate housing need. For example:
£40 could pay for a helpline adviser to give emergency housing advice to a family fleeing domestic violence
£50 helps pay for a Shelter caseworker to attend court to prevent a family being unlawfully evicted
£75 means Shelter can pay for ongoing support and practical help for a homeless family settling into a new home
Architect in the House - in action
Thanks to Architect in the House, previous participants, the Segals, have kept the integrity of their existing home while adapting it to meet their needs and they are delighted with the results.
Shirley and Ian Hiscock signed up for Architect in the House because they wanted to improve the awkward layout in their home. They didn’t want to move house, but were hoping for a more contemporary and unified space.
If you would like to read more about how Architect in the House has already helped homeowners, you can visit the website. You will also find more information about the scheme and details on how to register.
If you are a RIBA architect and would like to offer your time, you can find out how here.
Read more about Shelter and how the charity supports homeless people or people with housing needs.
*Please note that if the scheme is oversubscribed, a match with an architect cannot be guaranteed.