The project, ReFURNISH is part of Devon Furniture Forum and will collect unwanted furniture and appliances from householders and returned goods from retailers. The items will be repaired and refurbished for resale at a low cost to residents on low incomes.
David Banks, regional development manager of the Devon Furniture Forum, said: “There is a clear need to reduce the quantity of furniture and appliances going to landfill and to provide local people with this new service.”
The project has been given premises from the council rent-free for the first year and some of the money has been invested into preparing the building. The grant will also be used to support a manager, administrator, a vehicle and two drivers for the project.
A training scheme is also planned for ReFURNISH with some of the CRED funding being used to pay an instructor. The project is considering offering NVQs in electrical service engineering as well as some other qualifications in general subjects and community recycling.
Model
Mr Banks explained that several projects in the area have folded due to poor management and a lack of funding, but this project is looking to provide a best practice model to other community groups in the area.
“What we are looking to do is take this project and create a model we can replicate and expand,” he said. “We want to see that there is a project everywhere in Devon where people can take their old furniture, instead of to the dump, and where people can buy low cost items.”
Unlike some community furniture projects who only sell or donate refurbished items to people on low incomes, Mr Banks said that ReFURNISH will supply its goods to anyone but will give large discounts to people on low incomes.
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