Our Furniture Project Received almost 60 Tonnes of donations from the residents of Skye and Lochalsh.
Our furniture project is a popular project with the wider community within Skye and Lochalsh. It has not only helped the individuals needing to get rid of their unwanted items and the residents of Skye and Lochalsh who are needing items of furniture, some of whom are referred to us by Social Work Services, Housing Services and NHS, who for one reason or another cannot afford it, or might be patients in hospital needing certain items before they can be discharged, or those whose own items have reached the end of their useful lives and need replaced or after a disaster such as fire or flood. The project also helps to build confidence within our own membership as our members sometimes help to pick up or deliver furniture. This gives them a feeling of achievement and pride in being able to help the community.
Over 800 items have gone to at least 520 households within Skye and Lochalsh, and while the furniture project is accessible to anyone within the Skye and Lochalsh area, priority is given to those in greatest need. This has diverted around 50 tonnes of waste from landfill, and while this figure is less than last year, due to staff injury and lack of volunteers, things have settled in the last couple of months.
Our Shed continues to be well used.Our members are currently reupholstering some nice dining chairs which will be sold in the next couple of months, and some members are making planters for our allotment.
We have been trying our hands at making things and upcycling. This is a lamp and shade made by one of our members, as you can see the base is an old gin bottle and the shade was made from a kit.
Helping with the furniture makes me feel good about myself, I feel that I am contributing to the community and that people will see me rather than my illness.