Future Is Uncertain For Furniturelink Unless New Premises Can Be Found Soon

Published on: 10 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 11 Nov, 2015

Furniturelink Guildford – the social enterprise project that recycles, refurbishes and reuses good quality, pre-owned donated furniture – is in danger of closing unless it can find new premises.

The lease on its current showroom at the Cathedral Hill business park expires in March 2016 and will not be renewed.

The chief executive of Furniturelink Guildford, Neil Mason, and operations manager Wendy Watson.

Chief executive Neil Mason has been searching for suitable new premises in the Guildford area, but has drawn a blank.

He said: “It’s proving really difficult to find somewhere we can relocate to. There just doesn’t seem to be anything around and at a lease we can afford.

“I’m hoping that by making this appeal someone will come forward and help us, or make a suggestion if they know of somewhere. It doesn’t have to be in Guildford. It could be in a surrounding area, as we serve wider than just Guildford too. We need between 3,000 and 6,000 square feet of space.”

Twice nominated for the Social Enterprise of the Year award, Furniturelink is helping an average of 3,500 families a year by providing affordable pre-owned furniture and white goods.

It provides more than 5,000 hours of back-to-work volunteering opportunities for people and diverts about 95,000 kilos of material from landfill each year.

The concept of Furniturelink works extremely well. It is a project that now breaks even and is less reliant on grants. Neil and his team (there are nine staff on the payroll and about seven volunteers at any one time) have worked extremely hard to reach this position.

Neil Mason from Furniturelink Guildford that needs to find new premises for its successful social enterprise scheme.

Neil added: “I don’t know what the future will hold if we can’t find anywhere else to go next year. We really do help a lot of people on low incomes and support those who come to us as volunteers.

“Many of those we help are introductions from Guildford Borough Council, who signpost tenants who need some furniture. The council has been very supportive to us and has helped with grants, and so on.”

Furniturelink also offers house clearances and a small removals service. And it has recently set up a project called Would Work in conjunction with Surrey Choices at the Lockwood Centre in Slyfield.

Used furniture that can’t be re-sold but is far too good for landfill is now being transformed by people at Lockwood. They are making a host of items including birdboxes, planters and keyrings, etc.

Anyone who can help Furniturelink in its appeal to find new premises can call Neil Mason on 07735 530379. Email: n.mason.furniturelink@gmail.com

Furniturelink Guildford is at Unit 4, Deaconsfield, Cathedral Hill, Guildford, GU2 8YT. Open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturdays.

General enquiries on 1483 506504 or 07917 148940.

The current showroom at Unit 4 Deaconsfield, Cathedral Hill, Guildford.

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