From one big family to another!

Cathy Staples has worked with us for 24 years as a mobile cleaner, starting out with Hull City Council and transferring to KWL when we established nearly 15 years ago.

The nature of her role means she is usually the last person working in the void properties after refurbishment is complete. With impeccably high standards, she ensures these properties are spick and span for Council tenants to move in and make what is hopefully their forever home.

From a personal point of view, Cathy’s family history is fascinating (a longer story for another day), however, her Mother was a French/Italian immigrant, evacuated as a child to the UK after the war. Cathy’s parents met as teenagers when her Dad, (Mr Higginbotham) who served in the Navy, was on shore-leave in Glasgow. The couple were married just one week later!

Returning to rest of the Higginbotham family in Hull, where the family were part of the fishing industry, living on Hessle Road and as one of ten children, Cathy became a relied upon member of the household – cooking and cleaning from the tender age of 6. With so many people living in the same house, the importance of cleanliness was instilled at an early age.

When the Bransholme Estate was completed 51 years ago, Cathy’s family were one of the first residents of Hessle Road to be relocated to new, warmer and more spacious homes on the brand new estate, where Cathy and her own family; husband, 3 children and 3 grandchildren all remain part of the community.

Living and growing up on the estate has entrenched a sense of loyalty and pride in Cathy and she enjoys being able to provide clean and healthy housing for the local community, who benefit in the same way her own family did.

At work, Cathy is a proud Unison Representative for KWL and gets involved in all sorts of activity to support our employees – attending meetings for updates on Health and Safety, staff sickness procedures, work reviews and more.

She explains: “The hand-over standard for our refurbished properties is set very high. All tenants have to do is bring their belongings and just move in – their home is spotless on arrival.”

“I usually work on my own, travelling from job-to-job and I quite enjoy it. Although I have had two spooky incidents – both times a shadow passed by the door and made me feel like I wasn’t alone in the property. It freaked me out but I carried on working in the house, I didn’t feel scared as you might expect.”

All employees who work on site are required to qualify for a CSCS card which demonstrates a level of Health and Safety knowledge. This is to be renewed every five years and Cathy has just completed her third assessment for it.

“I have gathered so much knowledge and experience working with KWL. I don’t think I would get this in any other cleaning job. We complete asbestos awareness, Health and Safety and ladder training. Safety in these roles is so important and it is taken very seriously by all members of staff.”

“KWL really cares about its staff, we’re like one big family. Once I fainted when I’d finished a job and my Supervisor Allen Baggaley came straight away and accompanied me to the medical walk-in centre.”

“Also, recently I had a shortage on gloves. Rob Morley, the Business Leader of KWL went to the supermarket to buy me some. If that’s not a caring attitude I don’t know what is!”