23 JULY 2008
NOTTINGHAM RECYCLING CHARITY IS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Family First has been officially declared a centre of excellence for its furniture recycling services.
It is now an Approved Re-use Centre (ARC) of Business Excellence, accredited by FRN Enterprises.
Community Resources, Family First’s recycling division, was awarded the accolade because of the comprehensive systems in place and the training and leadership opportunities it provides.
The FRN (Furniture Re-use Network) is the national body which authorises, supports, assists, and develops charitable re-use organisations across the UK.
It assessed the charity’s supply of new and reused furniture as well as its transport and collections service, including the removal of bulky waste.
Dilwyn Evans, Senior Service Manager at Family First said: “This is a great achievement. Family First is now one of only 14 centres across the UK to be selected as a centre of excellence for furniture recycling.
“The award shows the high quality of service we can offer to both residents in need of furniture and also members of the public and businesses making donations of unwanted goods.”
Family First currently has a fleet of six vans which travel around Nottinghamshire collecting donations of good quality, unwanted furniture such as sofas and beds, electrical items and children’s equipment like cots and pushchairs.
Essential items are then redistributed for free to people in need and non-essential items are sold at low cost in the charity’s two shops, in Kilbourn Street, Nottingham, and Low Street, in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The charity, which manages almost 400 homes in Nottingham, developed its recycling service to help tenants who are moving into a new home and cannot afford to buy even essential pieces of furniture such as a bed.
It helps maximise the income of people in need, while also benefiting the environment by reducing waste, discouraging fly-tipping and ensuring useable items do not go to landfill.
Family First is part of the LHA-ASRA housing and regeneration group.
Donations of furniture, white goods, children’s clothing and children’s items are always welcome. Call: 0800 013 0497.