Spreading Christmas Cheer: Supporting Local Families in Need

At The ShutterShack, community means a great deal to us — especially at Christmas. Inspired by the Wave 105 Mission Christmas initiative, which encourages people to donate new toys for children in families needing a little extra support during the festive season, we felt compelled to get involved in our own way.

Rather than buying gifts at random, we reached out to a local charity doing incredible work in our area. The lovely Shelley from Second Chance Charity in Verwood kindly provided us with details of two local families in need of support, including the ages and genders of their children.

In total, there were eight children ranging in age from just 5 months to 17 years old. We were delighted to be able to buy Christmas presents for all of them — carefully chosen and thoughtfully wrapped, ready to be placed under the tree. It was a real pleasure selecting gifts we hoped each child would be excited to unwrap on Christmas morning.

To help make the holidays even more special, we also put together festive food bundles for each family, including boxes of chocolates, tubs of sweets, savoury snacks, and mince pies — little treats to bring joy to the whole household over the festive break.

Supporting families in our community was an incredibly rewarding experience, and we’re proud to have been able to contribute in a small way. A huge thank you to Shelley and Second Chance Charity for making this possible, and to Wave 105 for inspiring such a heartwarming initiative.

We look forward to continuing our community support in the years to come.

Supporting and Sponsoring - Our Local Youth Football Team Presentation BBQ!

We are still the proud sponsors of a local youth Verwood Football Team, now under 13s! It has been a pleasure to support the team and watch them develop and grow from the little tiny 5 a side footballers in to the 11 aside teenagers they are now!

In July this year, we contributed and sponsored their end of season presentation BBQ, it was a glorious day spent at Avon Heath. 

The sun was shining, the coaches set up a pop-up goal on the green and the kids and parents had a wonderful time celebrating another great season and a promotion up to the next tier in the league.

Caught by Surprise!

This year there was a very unexpected additional award, a special mention and trophy from the team and coaches to Charles at TheShutterShack. A thank you and acknowledgement for the continued support of kit, coats and training tops through the past 5 years.

We are proud sponsors of the local team and feel privileged to be part of the boy’s football journey.

Summer Fayre Donations to Local Schools

Supporting the local community, football and schools is always a priority and at the central to our business values.

Previous years we have donated Amazon Fire Tablets to the raffles, but this year we wanted to do something different and donate more prizes across a number of schools.

We were keen to donate something useful and sustainable and got our thinking hats on…

Ailsa came up with the idea of a Beach / Swim bag! We we pleased to have donated 5 of these bags, filled with a beach towel, sun glasses, water bottle and finished off with some sweets!

Needless to say the schools were delighted - we also spoke to a number of raffle winners who commented on how great the prize was and their children couldn’t wait for beach day to trial it out.

Why we are not just about Shutters

We know it has been some time since our last blog, we have been busy not only fitting shutters but also doing what we can around the community.

Charles, the main man behind The ShutterShack, constantly pushes for more community work, more charity donations and more ways to make our business more sustainable.

This year, we have supported the charity Cool Earth via donations, a non-profit organisation that works alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation and its impact on climate change. We mainly use Paulownia Hardwood Shutters, one of the most sustainable hardwoods around, as a lightweight strong fast growing wood. It is plantation grown and can be traced back to source, thereby stopping illegal deforestation. It is also a premium beautiful quality hardwood.

For the last few years, we have been supporting our local schools, Verwood First and more recently Emmanuel Middle School by donating great raffle prizes for the school fayres.

We also support our local kids Football Team Verwood Town FC (a non-profit organisation working for the community) and sponsor their training kit. Look at these top footballers!

We are an ethical business, we try to avoid filling landfills unnecessarily and actively look for ways to recycle as much as we can. We recycle all our cardboard and always look for means to reuse our other packaging. We work with another local business, the amazing Glass Relief (www.glassrelief.co.uk) who uses our wrapping to pack their glass art.

We are only a small company, but we believe every litttle thing can make a difference and as we steadily grow, we will be able to increase our support to our Community and develop ways to reduce waste, recycle more efficiently and positively impact on the environment.

The Complete Guide to Bay Window Shutters

Stylish, Practical & Custom-Made for Your Home

Bay windows are one of the most distinctive and attractive architectural features in many UK homes. Whether you have a splayed bay, box bay or curved bay, this elegant window style adds space, character and floods your home with natural light. But when it comes to dressing bay windows, standard curtains or blinds often fall short.

That’s where bay window shutters come in — providing a tailored, timeless, and incredibly functional solution.

Why Are Bay Window Shutters So Popular?

Bay window shutters are rapidly becoming the go-to choice for homeowners across the UK. Here’s why:

✅ Made-to-Measure Fit

Every shutter is custom-made to the exact dimensions of your bay, no matter how unique the angles. This ensures a flawless, built-in finish that enhances the natural shape of your window.

✅ Elegant from Every Angle

Because shutters are designed to fit snugly within the frame, they don’t crowd your space like bulky curtains. They’re sleek, minimal, and look just as impressive from the outside as they do from within.

✅ Light and Privacy Control

Bay window shutters allow you to enjoy full privacy without compromising natural light. Simply tilt the louvres to suit your needs — ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and street-facing properties.

✅ Insulation Benefits

Shutters act as a barrier between your home and the outside, helping to reduce drafts in winter and keep rooms cooler in summer — making your bay both beautiful and energy efficient.

Best Shutter Styles for Bay Windows

Bay windows come in all shapes and sizes — and so do our shutters. Here are the most popular styles for bay windows:

Full Height Shutters

Classic and clean, these shutters run from top to bottom of each panel and offer brilliant light and privacy control. Add a mid-rail or hidden split for extra flexibility.

Tier-on-Tier Shutters

Want even more control? Tier-on-tier shutters have independently opening top and bottom panels — ideal for maximising light while keeping the lower section closed for privacy.

Café Style Shutters

These half-height shutters cover only the bottom part of the window, allowing full daylight in from above — great for kitchens, dining areas, or creating a relaxed, informal look.

Solid Panel Shutters

Solid shutters are perfect for bedrooms or period properties, offering a more traditional feel and maximum privacy when closed.

Can You Have Shutters on a Curved or Splayed Bay Window?

Absolutely. At The ShutterShack, our shutters are made-to-measure and designed to follow the exact curve or angle of your window. We specialise in crafting shutters for:

• Curved Bay Windows

• Angled or Splayed Bays

• Box Bays

• Multi-faceted Bays

We use precise templating and expert fitting techniques to ensure a smooth, polished finish.

What Colours and Finishes Are Available?

We offer a wide range of painted and stained finishes to match your décor and window frames. From crisp Pure White and soft neutrals to rich wood tones, you’ll be able to choose a finish that complements your room perfectly.

Need help choosing? We bring our full range of samples to every home survey.

What Are Bay Window Shutters Made From?

Our shutters come in a range of materials to suit your needs and budget:

• Hardwood Shutters – Elegant, natural and strong

• Composite Shutters – Moisture-resistant and ideal for kitchens or bathrooms

• Waterproof Faux Wood – Durable and low maintenance

• Craftwood Shutters - Entry-level (MDF) shutters without compromising on overall aesthetic.

Professional Bay Window Shutter Installation

We take care of everything — from initial consultation and measuring, to expert installation. Our local specialists work with all types of bay windows, and will guide you through the process to make sure your shutters not only fit perfectly, but look amazing too.

Quality That Lasts – Backed by Our Industry-Leading Warranties

When you invest in shutters from The ShutterShack, you're choosing premium quality and complete peace of mind.

• 10-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty on all of our hardwood shutters — your assurance that they’re built to last, made from high-grade materials that stand the test of time.

• Lifetime Workmanship Warranty – Every shutter is expertly installed and we stand by our craftsmanship for life. Should any issue arise due to the way your shutters have been fitted, we’ll make it right. Terms and Conditions apply.

It’s just one more way we make sure you feel confident in your investment — now and for years to come.

Get a Quick Quote or Book Your Free Home Survey

We offer two ways to get started:

• Free Home Survey – We’ll visit at a time that suits you, take accurate measurements, show you samples, and talk through your options.

• Quick Quote – Already have your window measurements? Send them over and we’ll give you a no-obligation estimate.

Transform Your Bay Window with Beautiful Bespoke Shutters

Bay window shutters are more than just a window covering — they’re a design statement. Whether you want to improve insulation, gain privacy, or simply add elegance to your space, shutters are the ideal solution.

📞 Contact The ShutterShack today to find out more or book your free home visit.

Research demonstrates that Shutters are the Most Energy Efficient Window Covering

GET PLANTATION SHUTTERS TO KEEP YOU WARM THIS WINTER.

As well as giving a stunning elegant look to your room, interior shutters add an effective layer of insulation to your home. In fact, this is their primary purpose in life!

Plantation shutters first appeared in ancient Greece to protect properties from weather hazards and regulate the temperature inside the home. They since spread all over Europe and comprehensive research has evidenced the excellent capabilities of shutters as temperature regulators. They keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 

As such, shutters can noticeably reduce your energy bills by reducing heat loss, controlling heat gain and making your home more energy efficient. A project funded by the Climate Challenge Fund evidenced this by concluding that shutters could ‘dramatically reduce energy bills’. The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust (EWHT) used thermal imaging cameras to show the most effective ways to avoid heat loss and save energy. They established that windows with the shutters closed showed up in the images in a deep blue colour, demonstrating little heat loss.

Figure 1 Source: EDINBURGH WORLD HERITAGE Energy Efficiency Guide

The United Nations RENFORUS (Renewable Energy Futures for UNESCO sites) also endorsed the results of the EWHT project; wooden shutters, amongst other things, can greatly improve the energy efficiency of traditional and historic homes, ‘enabling them to contribute to local and national carbon reduction targets.’

Research by the Glasgow Caledonian University was conducted to identify the effectiveness of the various heat loss reduction options. They tested a series of measures on a single glazed box sash window (which had been draught proofed).

It concluded that ‘secondary glazing was the most effective overall option, as it reduced heat loss through the window by 63%. Timber shutters are the most effective option of the traditional methods, reducing heat loss by 51%; Insulating the panels of the shutters further reduced heat loss by 60%;  Curtains reduced heat loss by 14%; a Victorian roller blind reduced heat loss by 28%; a modern roller blind reduced heat loss by 22%.’

Research further demonstrated that fitting shutters improved the U-Value from 4.3 W/m²K to 2.2 W/m²K.

The combination of secondary glazing and shutters reduced heat loss by 75% and reduced the U-Value to 1.1 W/m²K.

With such compelling results, it is a no brainer. Whether you already have double glazing or not, shutters are definitely the way forward to make your home more energy efficient and save on your bills. As an added bonus, shutters will give your rooms a stunning makeover, add value to your house, increase privacy and security, reduce noise, save space and offer great versatility with ventilation and light control.

Figure 2 Source: Thermal Performance of Traditional Windows, by Paul Baker, Glasgow Caledonian University, for Historic Scotland.

 Figure 3 Source: Thermal Performance of Traditional Windows, by Paul Baker, Glasgow Caledonian University, for Historic Scotland.

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References

BS EN ISO 8990:1996, Thermal insulation. Determination of steady-state thermal transmission properties. Calibrated and guarded hot box, BSI, ISBN 0 580 26826 8 [6] BS EN ISO 12567-1:2000,

Thermal performance of windows and doors. Determination of thermal transmittance by hot box method. Complete windows and doors, BSI, ISBN 0 580 36028 8

http://www.ewht.org.uk/news/109/102/Thermal-imaging-survey-reveals-close-your-shutters

http://www.ewht.org.uk/uploads/downloads/Energy%20Efficiency%20Guidebook%20Final.pdf

http://www.renforus.net/

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/gcu-technical-_thermal-efficiency-traditional-windows.pdf

https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/your-home/saving-energy