Banner and The University of Dundee work together to provide Warming Kits for the homeless

Following a previously successful initiative with Stirling Council, Banner is working in partnership with The University of Dundee to deliver community benefits by sourcing and donating “Warming Kits” across the region.  

The partnership was formed after the University awarded Banner a contract to supply recycled, reusable, and sustainable period products. Through APUC’S JAN1011 AP: Cleaning & Janitorial Products Framework, Banner was able to support the University in supplying essential period products to its staff and students for free, keeping in line with Scotland’s Period Poverty Act.  

The Challenge 

The University of Dundee considered the Community Benefits program a crucial aspect when they awarded Banner the contract. It was essential for the University that Banner could not only fulfil the main objective of the contract, but also to contribute towards their mission to address and reduce inequalities. As a result, Banner was tasked with contributing to a range of national and local outcomes. Banner and the University collaborated to investigate potential Community Benefits possibilities and quickly identified an initiative that would support the local community. 

During the winter months, Scotland experiences chilling temperatures, with the daytime temperature being on average 4°C, which can plummet even further during the night. These conditions pose a significant threat to those without a home or access to shelter.

According to Shelter Scotland, the ongoing housing emergency has meant that “the number of households that became homeless [in 2023] rose by 10% compared to the year before”. With homelessness on the rise, Banner and The University of Dundee began working together to deliver community benefits in the form of “Warming Kits” to help those in need. 

The Solution

Building on a previously successful initiative with Stirling Council and as a response to the ongoing homelessness crisis, Banner worked with The University of Dundee to donate “Warming Kits” to individuals in need via foodbanks at the end of 2023. With winter and its life-threatening temperatures approaching, it was vital to quickly launch the renewed project.  

In the initial Warming Packs project with Stirling Council, Jim O’Hara, Banner Contract Account Manager, originally sourced and organised the product donations. To resurface the project with the University of Dundee, Jim collaborated closely with the University and foodbanks and played a key role in ensuring the Warming Kits were donated to those who crucially needed them.

The Warm Kits Contents 

The pre-packed kits include essential products that will help to shelter and keep individuals protected from the cold weather: 

• Sleeping bag
• Hot water bottle 
• Thermal blanket
• Hand warmers
• Thermal beanie 
• Thermal socks
• Thermal gloves
• Thermal mug (420ml)
• Thermometer 
  
  

The Result

As part of the Community Benefits program, Banner and The University of Dundee worked in direct partnership to supply essential Warming Kits to those in need. This has contributed to a range of national and local outcomes relating to tackling inequalities.  

The Warming Kits have been distributed to food banks and directly to homeless people by volunteers, providing a lifeline to those in need. The packs include essential products such as a thermal mug, thermometer, hot water bottle, hand warmers, gloves, socks, and a thermal blanket. These are items that provide comfort and even save lives during cold weather. 

Jim O’Hara commented on the outcome, “We are incredibly proud to have delivered this (Community Benefits ) project with the University, especially within an extremely quick turnaround to ensure the kits were delivered before the temperatures started to drop. It has been a real achievement to see this project from initial ideas and discussion to full realisation and delivery. 

We are passionate about doing good for local communities and it just goes to show what can be achieved when people and organisations come together to help those in need.  We look forward to working together to deliver other Community Benefits projects in the future.” 

Banner is proud to be actively engaged with communities across the UK, striving to support those in need whenever possible. Our CSR framework ensures that we actively contribute to our local communities, consistently and effectively address environmental issues, prioritise the well-being of our employees, and monitor the environmental and social performance of our supply chains.  

Read about our work with The University of Dundee and how we supported their mission to end period poverty here. 

Customer background information

University of Dundee

The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. Its core purpose is to transform lives, working locally and globally through the creation, sharing, and application of knowledge.

Banner

Providing the right product at the right time.

Banner is the APUC top ranked supplier for Period Products in Higher Education Scotland.

We offer compliant and sustainable workplace supplies and services across the UK and Ireland. As an evo company, our customers benefit from our wholly-owned logistical platform and infrastructure that enables them to simplify and consolidate their supply chain.

Find out more about our range of Facilities Supplies here.