OUR JOURNEY
From a small committee to a green revolution. Here is how we’ve grown since 1997.
Foundation
A committee of local people decided to set up a Furniture Project to provide furniture for families in need while offering training and volunteering opportunities.
Official Charity Status
A company was formed in the name of the Furniture Project (Stranraer) Limited and registered as a charity with HMRC.
A pilot project was in operation on a part time basis, based in the Dicks Hill area of Stranraer, in the top 5% of the indices of multiple deprivation in Scotland and commenced operation.
Full-Time Operations
After receiving a National Lottery Charities Board award for a three year period the project employed four people and commenced full time operation throughout Wigtownshire.
Social Enterprise Model
We become a social enterprise, aspiring to generate our own income, reducing our dependency on grants.
Expansion
Opened a second centre in Newton Stewart with the same aims and objectives.
Award Winning
After being finalists in the previous year the team were awarded the best social enterprise in Dumfries & Galloway in the Business and Learning Awards.
Newton Stewart Relocation
Moved the centre in Newton Stewart to larger retail premises.
Diversification & Networking
Started within with Social Housing Landlords supplying a range of small works services, from fencing, gardens maintenance to decorating.Worked with SENSCOT and a range of local social enterprises to set up and Chair the Dumfries & Galloway Social Enterprise Network.
Investors in People
The team received the Investors In People award.
Revolve Accreditation
After lots of changes we were, for the first time awarded Revolve accreditation status by Zero Waste Scotland.
Community Engagement
Started to assist to organise the Christmas events in Stranraer.
Strategic Planning
the team researched and with the support of CEIS business consultants produced a 20 year business plan and tender for a contract that had been made available by Dumfries & Galloway Council.
Major Milestone
Awarded a 20 year Reuse Contract by Dumfries & Galloway Council. This was to raise the funds, contract, maintain and operate a reuse service across Wigtownshire from the shared Zero Waste Park in Stranraer.We were awarded Volunteering Organisation of the Year by Dumfries & Galloway Third Sector Interface.
Rebranding & New Centre
MWith all the funds being raised and the centre being constructed we moved from our modest home in Dicks Hill to our new ‘first of its kind in Scotland’ state of the art centre on the zero waste park in Stranraer, which we can proudly say we own. The project was rebranded from the Furniture Project to the Community Reuse Shop.
Growth & Accreditation
>We organised the Big Christmas dinner, which followed on to eventually become the Fed Up Café, which we set up in 2019 as a stand alone Charity. Our team became more involved in the Stranraer Scottish Week events, helping to organise them and deliver them across our community. We received Revolve accreditation for the new centre.
Community Support
Started collecting from two additional recycling centres across Wigtownshire. In partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Councils Anti Poverty team we started to provide free school uniforms to young people who required assistance. Our team set up a Christmas Hamper service to families in need in partnership with our social services department. This has continued to expand year on year.
Covid Response
After a year of researching scope to we opened a clothing and homeware shop in the town centre. We closed our centre during Covid-19 lockdown and started working with the Fed Up Café and Dumfries & Galloway Council to deliver hot meals, food parcels, clothing, toys and clothing to people, which we continued to do until the Covid restrictions were lifted in 2021.
Innovation & Recognition
Our team organised free hair cuts, along with free school uniform and pens & pencils, for young people to return back to school in August, which has become an annual event.The Trustees & Management team have been working with the support of Dumfries & Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise to have a feasibility study and business plan produced by consultants Community Enterprise in Scotland and Potters Architects to enable the centre to be expanded to increase employment opportunity and divert more waste for reuse.>/br>>We received Revolve accreditation for our second shop named ReLoved Clothing in Stranraer town Centre.
Innovation & Recognition
Our team were nominated for a series of national awards;Vibe awards – we received a Best Practice AwardSocial Enterprise Scotland – finalists in the Best Social Enterprise category.Scottish Regeneration Forum (SURF) awards - awarded the best Community Led Regeneration Project.
We created an online team to maximise our sales, especially in non essential items.Worked with a team we set up Stranraer Community Events Group, which has become a stand alone organisation..
Scaling Impact
After targeting 8 employees within our business plan, we have 31 as a direct result of larger volumes of waste diverted from landfill than projected along with investment from funders.
To be continued
The journey of growth and community support continues.