News

Our main targets for 2010 were as follows:

• Increase furniture beneficiaries – by 15% from 77 people per month to 89 people per month. We managed to helped 85 people per month a 10% increase.
• Increase home collections – by 15% from 89 collections per month to 102 collections per month. We managed to completed 102 collections per month a 14% increase.
• To get funding towards a new collection/delivery vehicle to help increase the amount of Collections/Deliveries that we can do – We now have £2500 from the Benfield Charitable Trust.
• To get funding for a small office space to provide warmth, shelter and somewhere to eat for warehousing staff and volunteers – Awaiting news from funders.
• To get funding towards a new stock control system – Awaiting news from funders.
• We have been consulting with our beneficiaries, asking them what other services we could provide and have been networking with other organisations to explore partnership working to deliver other services.
  

Our full results for 2010 are as follows:

• 1022 individuals and families in need have been helped with low cost furniture (927 for 2009). 10% increase. This includes people who are:
  • Homeless  • Fleeing Domestic Violence  • Leaving Care  • Registered Disabled
• 3361 furniture items were provided to people in need instead of going to landfill sites (3012 for 2009). 12% increase.
• 11 people on work experience placements, have received extensive on job training.
• 11 people have found employment who were previously volunteering or on work experience placements.
• We reused approximately 52.5 Tons of furniture this year, which equates to saving 147 Tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions.
• 3527 furniture items were collected free of charge from local residents (3206 for 2009). 10% increase.

We have seen a fantastic growth in our sustainability:

• The total amount of money raised from furniture sales: £51,756 (2010), £46,228 (2009), £34,995 (2008).
• We have been working in partnership with Wansbeck Homes and the Credit Union since 2009. We have now developed a service which will ensure that tenants on low incomes are able to access our services with some extra financial support so that they can successfully setup in a new home.
• We have successfully registered with the Gift Aid scheme. We are now claiming Gift Aid on the Sales of donated furniture items.
• We are continuing to look at wider partnerships with others and building successful partnerships we have.