Richmond Furniture Scheme

Overview

The Richmond Furniture Scheme is a local furniture recycling charity operating in the borough of Richmond, London. It aims to prevent and relieve poverty by supplying donated furniture and household goods at minimal costs to individuals in need. Additionally, it works to protect the environment by promoting the reuse and recycling of donated furniture and household items[2][3].

Objectives

The charity’s objectives are multifaceted:

• Poverty Relief: Providing essential furniture and household goods to those in need at affordable prices helps alleviate poverty within the community[2].
• Environmental Protection: By encouraging the reuse and recycling of donated items, the charity contributes to reducing waste and protecting the environment[2].
• Unemployment Relief: It offers training, employment, work experience, and volunteering opportunities to address unemployment and support the unemployed[2].

Activities

The Richmond Furniture Scheme collects donated furniture, repairs, cleans, displays, and sells it at low prices to those in need, while also offering it to the general public at higher prices[3]. The charity provides basic training and work experience in carpentry and property maintenance, primarily for disadvantaged young people. Additionally, it offers volunteering experiences for various groups, including the unemployed[3].

Impact

Around 50% of the charity's customers come from disadvantaged backgrounds and receive a 25% discount on goods. The Richmond Furniture Scheme serves over 1,600 customers annually, mostly from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames[5]. The charity relies heavily on volunteers, with over 100 volunteers contributing more than 7,000 hours each year[5].

Financial Overview

For the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the charity reported a total income of £287,847 and a total expenditure of £244,735. This included £18,500 from government grants[3].

Governance and Volunteers

The charity is governed by eight trustees, and no trustee receives remuneration or benefits from the charity[3]. Volunteering plays a crucial role in the charity's operations, with volunteers involved in various activities such as warehouse management, customer support, furniture repair, and administration[5]. Volunteering has been noted to positively impact volunteers' mental health and wellbeing[5].

[1] https://www.rfsonline.co.uk [2] https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/our-objectives/ [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5005357 [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1017910&subid=0 [5] https://reuse-network.org.uk/buy-nothing-new-day-2024-richmond-furniture-scheme/