Thanks to Viessmann and its “Heroes of Heat” team, the Monkey Park social enterprise in Chesterfield is now able to keep its community users comfortable year-round.
On July 1st a completely new heating system, including a Viessmann Vitodens 100-W boiler, was installed by a team of volunteer plumbers. Pipes, sundries and radiators were donated by a host of suppliers and manufacturers.
The community hub, cycle project and workspace centre’s previous 45 year-old heating system was “on its knees” with management and café staff forced to transport hot water around the building in saucepans. A desperate tweet from supporter, Kevin Walker of local business Bitz ‘n’ PC’z, was seen by Viessmann, who urgently assembled a “Heroes of Heat” team that would ensure Monkey Park not only avoided a replacement cost of approximately £6,000, but that would see the hub enjoying a permanent reduction of 40% on energy bills.
“We are over the moon at this tremendous assistance from Viessmann and the Heroes of Heat. It means we can continue to spend our funds on developing new community projects,” said Simon Redding, co-founder of Monkey Park. “We have replaced our previous disjointed and ancient heating system with a single efficient system, with the very latest controls, which will drastically reduce the £350 to £400 we spend per month on energy bills.”
Darren McMahon, Marketing Director at Viessmann, added: ““Heroes for Heat” is a new initiative from Viessmann where, along with our installer and industry supplier partners, we can help out selected charities, not-for-profit organisations and underprivileged homeowners who are knocked for six when their heating systems fail. The benefits of our donated boiler will touch so many different people in the Brampton area of Chesterfield and it was important to us that Monkey Park, which is a model for communities up and down the country, could keep running as it is.”
Monkey Park shares its name with the adjacent Brampton neighbourhood park nicknamed “Monkey Park.” From the community building, which includes a café, various activities and services are offered by local volunteers, including business, careers and citizens’ advice; office space and services; social events; work experience for young people; a shop area selling local crafts; free electric car charging; a venue for local clubs, groups and classes; a bike refurbishing workshop and community fun days.
The volunteer installers were: Ian Forbes Heating & Plumbing, (Wayne) Kirby Heating & Plumbing, Damon Steele of DS Steele Heating Engineers, Lee Brown of The Peak Group, (Jon) Walton Heating & Plumbing, Jacob Hoyes of KBR Gas Services, Peter Booth of GV Booth Heating & Plumbing, James Foukes of Park Lane Plumbing, Chris Surridge of Meridian Heating Ltd, Damien Rose of DTR Gas & Heating, Robb Caven – NVQ L2 student, Andy Brown of ACE Heating Services and Jonathan Hallam from Viessmann.
