Recycle, Repurpose – and Transform Lives

Framework’s new Furnishing Futures programme can help transform the lives of homeless people by helping businesses and other organisations recycle domestic or office furniture, electrical appliances, fixtures and fittings.

Each year the UK generates approximately 28 million tonnes of commercial waste, much of which is incinerated or sent to landfill (DEFRA, 2020).  That waste includes many thousands of items of hard and soft furnishings – often in great condition or still brand new – that could have a new lease of life.

What many producers, suppliers and retailers might consider ‘dead stock’ is seen by charities like Framework as something that can help furnish a home for someone who has been homeless.

Furnishing Futures provides a solution for businesses which have a problem disposing of high-quality, ex-display, returned or end-of-line hard or soft furnishings, electrical appliances, kitchenware and bedding.

In addition, Furnishing Futures is relevant to any organisation contemplating refurbishment and looking for a disposal solution that is both cost-free and demonstrates their sense of social and environmental responsibility.

We provide supported accommodation to around 3,000 homeless people each year across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and every year we furnish and equip around 600 units of accommodation – mostly one-bed flats. By joining our Furnishing Futures initiative and donating their stock, businesses will help to give those items, and the people we support, a new lease of life.

Furnishing Futures is designed to accept either regular or one-off donations.  Every donation will receive an impact report to help the organisation demonstrate the resulting social and environmental impact – outlining the number of people helped and the number of items diverted from landfill. This information can be used to show progress towards achieving Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.

Furnishing Futures offers a win for businesses; it is also a win for Framework and the people we support, and it’s definitely a win for the environment!

We look forward to working with business and public sector organisations to make a difference together through this exciting and innovative project.

For further information, including the required sizes, standards and condition of items, and arrangements for collection and delivery, please visit Framework Furnishing Futures or contact Framework’s Fundraising Team at fundraising@frameworkha.org .