Project is helping to rebuild lives

A project that distributes furniture to people suffering hardship is also helping ex-offenders get their lives back on track.

The Furniture Project, based on Boughton Industrial Estate, works with the Probation Service to offer placements to offenders who need to complete a community order.

Community orders require offenders to complete a set number of hours of unpaid work to make amends for their actions.

Almost 120 offenders have completed a community order at The Furniture Project in the last nine months, equating to 3,400 hours of work.

The Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr Paddy Tipping, visited to see how the project was helping offenders rebuild their lives.

He said: “A lot of third sector organisations are struggling at the moment so the fact that The Furniture Project has got going and built itself up is really important.

“The reason for the visit was to talk about the people involved in the community payback scheme.

“It seems to me, as a matter of course, all of us have problems in our lives, and if you have been in trouble and to court, actually doing something and paying back the community is a smart and sensible thing to do.

“If you look at the figures for England and Wales, we have more people in custody than almost any other country in Europe and giving people roots, and letting them do community payback and getting them to work is fabulous.”

The Furniture Project, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, distributes donated furniture to people suffering hardship in Nottinghamshire.

It has helped more than 30,000 families and individuals in the county achieve a better quality of life, while preventing thousands of tons of furniture and household goods from going to waste.

It has five vans operating daily, collecting donated furniture and delivering furniture to those in need.

The project averages ten referrals for help each day, made by more than 150 agencies and organisations.

It helps deliver surplus furniture sold to help fund the project throughout an area covering more than 600sq miles.

'Nice to feel you are making a difference'

Some of those who complete a community order at The Furniture Project continue to volunteer there once they have completed their requirement.

Mr Rob Hallam, 61, of Ollerton, joined The Furniture Project in June last year to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

After completing his community order in around six weeks, he decided to continue volunteering on Thursdays and Fridays.

His duties include loading vans, moving goods, delivering furniture to customers and clients and picking up furniture up from donors.

He said: “There is a great set of lads here and it is good to put something back into the community.

“It gets you out meeting people and helping people out.

“It is nice to feel like you are making a difference to people.

“People like donating their furniture because they know it is going to a worthwhile cause.”

'Heading in the right direction'

Mr John Garrad, of Bilsthorpe, stayed on at the project after completing 180 hours of community service in spring last year.

The 72-year-old said he used to deliver leaflets for Mr Tipping on the campaign trail when he stood as MP for Sherwood.

He said: “I asked if I could stay on and help because these people are wonderful to work with and what they do for the community is great.”

Mrs Carol White, administrator at The Furniture Project, said the community payback scheme could be a platform for ex-offenders to get their lives back on track.

She said: “They are doing something and giving something back to the community. They are working hard, learning new skills, learning how to work with each other and as a team and they are doing something worthwhile.

“It is all good work experience to put on their CV and to get heading in the right direction.”