Portsmouth Decorating College students transform DEBRA Southsea shop
Students from City of Portsmouth College’s Painting & Decorating course have donated their time and skills to refurbish the DEBRA UK Southsea shop, helping us keep this much‑loved store at the heart of its community. Supported by the local Dulux Decorator Centre, the team carried out painting, plastering and other repairs. This project highlights just how important local community backing is in helping DEBRA UK continue raising funds for people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
Community support making a real difference
On Wednesday 11th March, our Southsea shop welcomed students from City of Portsmouth College‘s Painting & Decorating course for a full day of hands‑on volunteering. Their generosity, enthusiasm and professionalism brought a fresh new look to the shop, proving once again how essential local community support is to our charity shops and to DEBRA UK.
DEBRA UK is the national charity supporting people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a painful and potentially fatal skin condition. EB causes the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch. With skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wings, it is often referred to as “butterfly skin”.
Our shops help raise the funds needed to provide lifelong care, advocacy and research into treatments and, ultimately, a cure. When local groups step forward to help us improve and maintain these spaces, the impact extends far beyond the shop floor.
Students lending their skills to support people with EB
The decorating students took on a variety of tasks, from fresh coats of paint to more detailed work including re‑plastering sections of the shop. Projects like this help students gain real‑world experience while giving back to their community – a partnership that benefits everyone involved.
Dulux Decorator Centre providing materials and support
The local Dulux Decorator Centre also played a key role. Their team visited the shop, documented the progress, and helped provide materials needed for the refurbishment. They plan to share the story on their social media channels, helping raise awareness of EB and the importance of community involvement.
This combined effort demonstrates how businesses, educators and students can come together to make a meaningful difference.
Thank you to our Southsea community
We are deeply grateful to Portsmouth Decorating College, the students and tutors involved, and the Dulux Decorator Centre team for supporting our Southsea shop. Local community support keeps our shops thriving and ensures we can continue raising vital funds for people living with EB, today and into the future.
If you are local to the area, make sure to head in to DEBRA Southsea and see the transformation for yourself:
51 Elm Grove, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 1JF, UK
