Furniture Re-use Network

Oliver Heath and reused furniture The FRN is the national body which supports, assists and develops charitable re-use organisations across the UK. We do this to reduce poverty by helping households in need access furniture, white goods and other household items at affordable prices. In addition, we support re-use organisations in providing training and work placement opportunities for people who are socially excluded.

To donate furniture to your local furniture re-use organisation, click here

Approximately 400 re-use organisations work with social and environmental aims across the UK . These vary in size from small local charities to large social enterprises. Some are attached to housing associations, development trusts and councils for voluntary service. The benefits of our members work extends far beyond that which can easily be quantified, for example, rebuilding someone’s confidence or turning the shell of a property into a home. However, the following statistics, based upon our membership form returns, provide just an idea of the impact of our members work.

The sector is small but growing. It is able to reprocess electrical items in line with Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations and is developing partnerships with local authorities to collect bulky waste. We expect the outputs of the sector to double over the next three years with the FRN helping its members to deliver more and better services.

Every year the sector:

Employs over 3,000 staff
Provides training for over 8,000 trainees
Supports over 10,000 volunteers
Helps around 750,000 low income households
Saves low income households £330million
Reuses 2.6 million items of furniture and electrical equipment
Diverts 90,000 tonnes of waste from landfill
Saves over 100,000 tonnes of CO2

The sector works from 3 million sq ft of space and runs 1,000 vehicles. All this is achieved on an annual turnover of around £80 million.

Download the 2012-2013 membership form

FRN Members' Case Studies

Lighthouse Furniture

Brentwood, Essex
01277 222050
www.lighthousefurniture.org

What are the main objectives of your organisation‌?
Our main aims are the relief of poverty, through the practical provision of good quality used furniture and electrical appliances, regardless of circumstances or lifestyle and to divert items that might otherwise end up in landfill. We also provide volunteering opportunities for all ages, providing supported placements for long term unemployed and those disadvantaged in the employment market place.

What is unique about your organisation‌?
We provide vouchers at our own cost to a number of local agencies that refer needy people to us, for example Social Services, CAB, council Housing Needs departments, Women’s Aid, Foyer, local Hospital Trusts, local Housing Associations. These can be exchanged for essential items of furniture, allowing clients to shop with a sense of dignity.

What were the biggest challenges you had to face‌?
Growing from a small project with 4 staff into the organisation we are now, with 19 staff, coping with between 25 - 40% growth year on year.

What are your biggest achievements to date‌?
Moving from a local volunteer based charity giving items of furniture away free, into a Social Enterprise top 100 listed business, limited company and registered charity, running as a self sustaining organisation and yet still giving away furniture to needy families and diverting over 1000 tonnes from landfill.

How do you think you have contributed to the development of the sector‌?
We have successfully developed a business model that has allows us to grow and be self sustaining, such that we have become a “centre of excellence” in our area with other groups visiting us. We are also able to share our experiences and help new groups to adopt best practise and become viable quickly.

What are your future goals‌?
We are planning to open in two new locations this year and in so doing to develop a franchise / partnership so that we can help other groups start similar ventures. We would also like to be able to offer OCN based training to our volunteers and staff.

How has the FRN helped your organisation‌?
FRN Members have been fantastic, helping us with everything from advice and sharing policies to working in partnership with us, which has helped us grow. Projects in the sector are always willing to help each other, sharing best practise, and the conferences and support from FRN nationally provide access to specialist expertise, knowledge and systems which are an invaluable resource to younger projects like ourselves.

ST MARTINS EMMAUS

ArcgliffeRoad, Dover, Kent
01304 204550
www.stmartinsemmaus.co.uk

What are the main objectives of your organisation‌?
We are a charity for 21 homeless people. We recycle furniture and white goods. We give people a sense of worth and help them regain skills to enable them to get their lives back.

What is unique about your organisation‌?
We receive no Government funding other than Housing Benefit for each Companion. Companions work and live in this Community and sign off all benefits on entry into the Community.

What were the biggest challenges you had to face‌?
The recession at the moment and public prejudice about the class of people who live here.

What are your biggest achievements to date‌?
Changing people’s opinions about who we are and what we do. Getting our Companions back into mainstream society again.

How do you think you have contributed to the development of the sector‌?
We recycle almost everything we collect therefore minimising the amount that is sent to landfill.

What are your future goals‌?
To continue as we have done for the last 16 years and to improve in the future.

How has the FRN helped your organisation‌?
By keeping us updated on issues regarding recycling and also publicity.

2nd Chance Furniture Re-Use

Nuneaton, Warks
024 7632 6189
www.ch1.org.uk
Facebook: Chapter 1 2nd Chance Furniture Re-Use

What are the main objectives of your organisation‌?
To provide affordable furniture to those in need.
To provide work experience & training for volunteers and placements.
To reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

What is unique about your organisation‌?
We are part of a national housing association with a Christian ethos.

What were the biggest challenges you had to face‌?
Finding the right accommodation in the right location – and then having to pay for it!

What are your biggest achievements to date‌?
Still being here 6 yrs later. Helping around 300 volunteers & work placements increase their confidence & skills and for some to move into paid employment.

How do you think you have contributed to the development of the sector‌?
Marketing and awareness raising in the local community and contributing to the regional forum – encouraging other schemes.

What are your future goals‌?
To achieve sufficient funding or income to enable us to survive. Development of our volunteer programme through acquisition of Big Lottery funding.

How has the FRN helped your organisation‌?
Practical guidance on procedures & legal requirements. Enabling a network that provides contact with other schemes. 1-1 advice & support through the Re-Alliance funding and through the ARC audit. Quality assessment & reassurance through the ARC audit.