A charity and social enterprise on the Isle of Wight has saved almost 180 tonnes of furniture from going into landfill – the equivalent of 14 double-decker buses – in just one year.

Storeroom2010 collects the donated furniture and then sells it on to the general public. The charity offers discounts to people on low-incomes and marginalised individuals, enabling deprived families to furnish their homes in a more affordable way.

In 2017, 221 people in need of furniture were referred to Storeroom2010 from 50 support agencies, mainly in the Isle of Wight but also on the mainland. 15,914 pieces of furniture were sold to 5,447 households who now benefit from affordable items to improve their quality of life.

Money raised through the sale of furniture enables the charity to provide community and educational services, including supporting disadvantaged people by providing them with training in areas such as carpentry and joinery.

In May 2018, Storeroom2010 launched Cowes Men’s Shed, a community space for men (women are also welcome) to connect, converse and create. The initiative, part of the national Men’s Shed Association, aims to help reduce loneliness and isolation and provide somewhere for men to have fun and meet people.

The charity is also supported through investment from Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) and Power to Change. Storeroom2010 Founder Wendy Miller said:

They understood what we do and how important our charity is to vulnerable people living on the Isle of Wight.

Photo: Michael Dunkason