George – Volunteer with Furnish
‘I’ve been volunteering with Furnish since 1999.
I always enjoy coming into work, and helping members for the public pick out new furniture. I’ve made a lot of friends while working here and gained new skills as well. I’ve learnt how to lift and carry furniture safely how to load up vans and make deliveries to people’s homes. I’ve also gained some admin and IT skills.
‘I’m proud to say I’m now a senior volunteer and have won the Furnish award for best volunteer three times.
Supporting Schools in Sierra Leone
In February 2012, London Re-use received a donation of 2,000 desks from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) London exam centre. The ACCA were keen the desks were re-used and not wasted.
Linking up with the charities Build on Books and Scotia Aid-Sierra Leone, the London Re-use Network helped to divert 1,200 of the desks from landfill to classrooms in St Clements Secondary School in Kwama, Sierra Leone.
Scotia Aid share London Re-use Network’s view that re-use should always be prioritised over recycling. The charity has provided re-used computers, sewing machines, books and sports equipment to schools, hospitals and community groups in Sierra Leone. These items have been donated by schools and businesses in the UK.
ACCA’s desks have played a key role in equipping the school, which offers education to over 200 pupils, the majority of whom attend from the nearby orphanage.
The remaining desks have gone on to be used by school children in Morocco.