HEN case study: Hastings Furniture Service

HFS is a registered charity and social enterprise that reuses furniture and electrical appliances.

Established since 1988, HFS collects reusable household furniture and appliances throughout Hastings and Rother, preventing the goods going to waste in landfill sites. Good reusable items are collected free of charge.

HFS stores in Hastings and Bexhill provide the goods at affordable rates to local people who depend on benefits or working tax credits for their income. The charity also offers discounts for pensioners and students.

In the last year HFS reused over 200 tons of furniture and electrical equipment and helped over 3,000 local low-income households.

HFS has a long track-record of involving and supporting people who are long-term unemployed as volunteers and placements and has helped many to move into paid work.

The charity has established workshops to provide training in applying decorative paint effects to worn furniture giving it a new lease of life and bringing it back into use, while enabling people to gain skills, confidence and a qualification. The course is free for anyone who is out of work.

HFS is a great example of an environmental project with fantastic social benefits for our community.

Contact details:

HFS Hastings 6-10 Dorset Place Hastings TN34 1LG

01424 44 11 12

HFS Bexhill 47 London Road Bexhill TN39 3JZ

01424 22 35 94

www.hfs.org.uk