Mould and damp: a mum of five says it has become part of her life

A mother of five in Newham describes decades of living with mould, damp and unaffordable heating, and a local community centre has opened a free Warm Wash Centre to help with laundry and drying for vulnerable households.

A woman living in Newham reports many years of mould, damp and condensation in her three‑bedroom home and says heating costs prevent her from keeping the house warm. The Well Community Centre at Bonny Downs has added a Warm Wash Centre to its services so residents can use washing and drying facilities free of charge. The initiative is supported by Cadent Gas and local charities and is aimed at households struggling with energy bills and housing damp. Staff and engineers linked to the programme also identify signs of damp during home visits and refer people to additional support. Key facts: - A mum of five who has lived in her home for 35 years describes persistent mould, damp and condensation and says she often cannot afford to use the heating. - The Well Community Centre in Newham now offers a Warm Wash Centre providing free washing, drying and warm facilities, funded in partnership with Cadent Gas and charities. - Cadent‑trained engineers are conducting home visits to spot damp and mould, noting some broken heating systems and referring households to charity support; staff say mould has affected some children's asthma. Summary: The Warm Wash Centre provides practical laundry and drying help for households facing damp and high energy costs, and staff report this can ease some immediate pressures on families. The rollout is already under way in several cities and the programme is planned to cover 10 of the UK's most deprived areas, with more centres due to open soon.