Key facts
Area: South West
Project: Recycling Project
Programme: Reaching Communities
Date of award: December 2010
Amount awarded: £294,959
Furniture Recycling Project (FRP) is a non-profit making organisation with a board of trustees run by a project manager, staff and a team of volunteers. They provide affordable furniture and electrical items to some of the most deprived households in Gloucestershire. All furniture and electrical items are donated which helps to promote recycling and reduces items being sent to landfills. They aim to improve the lives of people most in need in Gloucestershire, they offer a free of charge collection service and charge a nominal fee for delivery.
The project has a warehouse with a workshop and shop in the centre of Gloucester and a second shop in Cheltenham. The warehouse is used to store incoming furniture and electrical items; each item is checked and repaired if necessary ensuring they are safe and clean for re-sale.
Ian Ellis, Chief Executive of FRP said: “I joined the project 19 years ago, from a commercial background and one of my earliest memories was when I delivered a bed for a little girl who didn’t have one, something so basic and something that I’d taken for granted, it made me think that I could do more. We’ve been fortunate enough to grow the organisation and the funding from Big Lottery Fund has helped to make a significant difference, it has given us some sustainability to develop over the coming years. We’ve seen growth year on year, as there’s a real need for our service and it’s becoming wider across the county.”
The organisation is currently run by a team of 27 staff, which consist of employed staff, volunteers and trainees. They offer training schemes for young people that are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training); the training works towards recognised qualifications, helping the young person to build confidence, gain work experience and support their personal development for future employment. Each training placement lasts an average of 22 weeks with over 50% of the trainees moving into employment or further education; between April 2012 and March 2013 a total of 35 trainees achieved qualifications.
Ashley Edwards a volunteer for FRP says “I was offered several roles when I started but I really enjoyed going out on the van and meeting people. I get a lot of personal satisfaction from delivering furniture to people who need it and at the end of the day I come away knowing that I’ve helped someone. It’s made a huge difference to me as I’m at college two days a week and on the other days I was doing nothing, I’m now doing something much more worthwhile with my time. I’m a lot healthier, fitter, stronger and more confident, it’s given me an understanding of working life, and I’m gaining work experience that will help me get a paid job”
In 2012 they won The Prime Minister’s Big Society Award for Recycling and employment (environment). The award recognises the exceptional work they do in their community, going above and beyond to make things better for others.
Watch the Furniture Recycling Project video
Find out more about the Furniture Recycling Project
Find out more about the Big society Awards