FRN’s 20th annual conference reaffirmed the findings of the “Investment for Growth” report that innovation, strategy and investment will ensure the furniture re-use sector is best-placed to meet the challenge of change.

The conference in Cranage attracted over 160 people – mainly from FRN’s 400+ strong membership base – and representatives from local authorities, consultancies and private sector organisations.

As well as sponsoring the event, IKEA UK’s Environment Manager - Charlie Browne expanded upon its strategic development work with FRN Enterprises; a partnership through which FRN members can access good quality, re-usable furniture for people most desperately in need.

Crucially, the success of this private/third sector partnership hinges upon the kind of externally-verified quality assurance scheme that was identified by the WRAP-funded `Investment for Growth’ report; implementation of such systems will improve the confidence of commercial operators and local authorities who have not yet engaged with the sector, and will encourage future working partnerships.

It’s also one of the essential requirements of the community waste sector in order to build capacity and reduce resource waste.

Furniture Re-Use Organisations will also need a portfolio of income streams – from sales, contracts, grant funding and most probably loans – in order to thrive in a post-recession, post-election Britain.

Recent OBE recipient - Nigel Kershaw, Big Issue Invest – echoed this theme with a brilliant, philosophically-fuelled rail against capitalism and turned loan financing into an attractive and real option for loan-nervous third sector organisations.

Re-use is rightfully gaining greater focus from Government – particularly in the challenge to tackle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas impacts.

By meeting a desperate social need, FRN and its members are naturally and forcefully meeting the challenge of change – whether that change is climate, financial, organisational or social.