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A community project which offers good quality second hand furniture, household items and clothing at affordable prices is expanding with the help of Incommunities.
 
The housing group’s charitable arm, Incommunities Foundation Ltd, backed Newlands Furniture Service with £30,000 in funding to help more people including those on low income to benefit from its services.

Newlands Furniture Service (formerly the Thorpe Edge Furniture Service) has been going 20 years and relies on the help of a team of volunteers.

It runs two furniture showrooms – one at Thorpe Edge and the other at Greengates – and ‘Bargain Box’, a community shop at York House on Thorpe Edge. The project also includes a local collection service for people wanting to donate items and a house clearance service.

Half the Incommunities funding is going into improving the projects outlets, attracting new customers by setting up an internet sales site and also supporting training opportunities for local people.

The remaining funding is paying towards the cost of a shop manager at the Bargain Box which sells everything from children’s clothing to bric-a-brac. Belinda Wright started in September and is hoping to turn the community facility into a profitable enterprise within the next twelve months.

Brenda Rhodes, the Newlands Furniture Service manager said: “We provide an invaluable furniture recycling service aimed at people mainly on low incomes across Bradford. The project also brings important environmental benefits in cutting landfill waste.

“The support of Incommunities Foundation will help us to expand and better meet the needs of new Incommunities tenants who have little or no furniture. This includes providing ‘starter packs’ to help people move into their new home as soon as possible.”
 
Carol Stevenson from Incommunities Foundation Board said “The Newlands Furniture Service helps many families and individuals to build new homes and lives for themselves. The Foundation funding will help it grow and support more residents and Incommunities tenants who have little money to spend on essential furniture and other items.”

The Thorpe Edge store is based at The Depot, 18 Rockwell Lane open Monday to Friday, 10.30am – 2.30pm. The Greengates store at New Line is open Tuesday to Friday 10.15am to 2.15pm and the Bargain Box community shop at York House, Thorpe Edge opens Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 5pm and Saturdays 9.15am to 1pm.

To arrange a home collection and for any enquiries contact 01274 774977.