A new furniture recycling scheme is going from strength to strength. Reporter SARAH SINGLETON looks at how it is helping families on low incomes as well as easing the pressure on landfill sites.

THE Waste Not Want Not furniture recycling scheme is doing a roaring trade, helping hundreds of people in north Wiltshire to furnish their homes at an affordable price.

The charity collects unwanted furniture and household goods, checks over and refurbishes items, then sells them on at a low price to people on means tested benefits.

Manager Phil Reade said: "It's an all-round win situation. We take furniture away from people who don't want it. We help people who might not otherwise be able to afford it to furnish their homes and we divert lots of reusable furniture from landfill sites.

"On top of that our volunteers have a lot to gain from helping out."

Waste Not Want Not is based at Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham, in premises formerly used by the Alldays supermarket.

Stepping into the charity's showroom it is not immediately obvious that it's a store for secondhand goods the furnishings are all in top condition and laid out to look just like an ordinary furniture showroom.

Mr Reade, who worked for more than 30 years in banking, now runs the project and oversees 12 volunteers to help man the shop and run the workshop where repairs and refurbishment are undertaken.

The idea for the project first dawned in 2000 when the Citizens' Advice Bureau, North Wiltshire District Council, Westlea Housing Association and the Chippenham Borough Lands charity decided there was a need in the area for a source of safe and affordable furniture for people struggling on a low income.

A board was formed to set up the charity, and a company limited by guarantee was set up. The supermarket building had stood empty for about three years and was left in a very poor state. With the help of volunteers and a team from the Prince's Trust, the building was cleaned and decorated to create a welcoming and pleasant environment.

The shop opened on December 2 last year and already does a lively trade.

The charity is looking for all sorts of furniture and household goods, including three-piece suites, beds and mattresses, electric cookers, fridges and freezers, sideboards, wall units and wardrobes.

The donations are collected by Waste Not Want Not and must be in a good condition.

"We ask people to consider if any donation is good enough for them to want to pass on to a member of their own family," said Mr Reade.

The store is not taking any further donations of dining room tables and chairs at the moment, but it has a shortage of fridges, freezers and electric cookers. Once back at headquarters, donations are checked over. Scratched tables are sanded and revarnished and electrical goods are checked over by an electrician.

Then the goods are displayed in the showroom, and sold on at a price set to cover costs.

To date, around 90 per cent of the buyers have come from the Chippenham area but the charity was set up to help out people from all over north Wiltshire.

Goods can be delivered by the Waste Not Want Not team, for a charge of £5 per delivery, or £8 for destinations on the edges of the district.

The project could not function without the help and dedication of the volunteers who give up their time to help out.

More volunteers are always welcome and Mr Reade would particularly like more help from people aged 25 or older who could drive the van for deliveries and collections.

Sales targets set for the first year were broken after the first four months and if the level of sales continues, Waste Not Want Not should be self sustaining after three years.

Among those who have benefited from the charity is Jonathan Hamblin, from Chippenham, who was rehoused with his wife and two young children about a month ago.

The family were unable to afford new furniture because Mr Hamblin is currently unemployed and turned to Waste Not Want Not for help. They were able to furnish their empty property with beds, a three piece suite, a display cabinet, two wardrobes and a dressing table, a dining table and four chairs, as well as a television.

"We've got a lovely house with lovely stuff in it," said Mr Hamblin. "It would have been very difficult for us otherwise we couldn't have afforded to pay full prices for furniture.

"I'm really glad Waste Not Want Not is there and I would recommend it to anybody on benefits. Everything was in a good condition and our house really feels like home."

Janet Fear, who runs the New Road guesthouse, is also delighted Waste Not Want Not started up and makes regular donations.

"I don't like to throw the older furniture away because it's all useable," she said. "I do think it's a good scheme, and it's pointless to throw good furniture away."

Team lends a helping hand

Waste Not Want Not relies on its team of volunteers to keep the operation afloat.

Among them is David Davies who was homeless himself and got to know about the charity when he finally set up home again. "I wanted to put something back into the community," he said.

Mr Davies, from Chippenham, started as a volunteer in September and works five days a week, helping in the shop and making collections and deliveries.

"It's surprising what good stuff is donated, and it's great to help other people out," he said.

Mum Alice Bird helps out in the shop two days a week when her children are at school. "I was bored at home and this gives me something to do," she said.

Rob Wick, 18, travels from Swindon to help out mending furniture. He joined full time through the Learning Gateway Scheme.

He is on a training programme that will lead him to an NVQ.