Coast & Country’s innovative Re:Furnish project in Saltburn is celebrating a hugely successful 1st year of operation.
The ReFurnish scheme not only sells affordable, good quality, and second-hand furniture it has also become a community hub offering work experience and training opportunities.
Since its official opening by Wayne Hemingway, Re:Furnish has clocked up more than 6,000 sales; collected and delivered more than 2,000 orders and donated in excess of 70 packages of furniture to individuals and families in need referred by professional organisations such as the Council or local Foodbank. The scheme is always on the lookout for donations of second hand furniture and offers a free collection and house clearance service within Redcar & Cleveland.
The innovative project is also playing a key role in delivering Coast & Country’s ‘Forging Futures’programme. ‘Forging Futures’ is a pioneering initiative that delivers bespoke training and is designed to motivate and increase self-esteem, as well as providing unemployed people with the skills to actively seek and secure learning and employment opportunities.
Five Forging Futures placements at Re:Furnish have already found permanent jobs within other organisations and one has secured a role at Coast & Country.
Re:Furnish is also providing a number of volunteering opportunities for those who wish to build their skills, broaden their knowledge and give something back to the community. There are currently nine volunteers at the facility and five previous volunteers have been supported back into work. Two volunteers have been inspired to start their own businesses using skills learnt and developed at Re:Furnish.
The official anniversary celebrations took place in the shop on Wednesday 23rd September with incentives for those who came along on the day (10% off everything or free delivery).
Tracy O’Neill, Director of Customer Services at Coast & Country, said: “Re:Furnish has become an integral part of the local community in so many different ways, including involvement in the fantastic Saltburn Food Festival.
“In addition to its core purpose of selling affordable furniture and household items, Re:Furnish is enabling people to fulfil their potential by providing a supportive and friendly working environment where confidence, skills and experience can be developed.
“We are absolutely delighted with the success of our volunteers and Forging Future placements, whose lives really have been changed since their involvement with Re:Furnish and we are very proud of their achievements.”