Wycombe Wanderer backs campaign to tackle furniture poverty
ReBuild is a partnership between Tool company Ryobi and local furniture project Central aid.
A furniture poverty campaign Re-Build has been launched in High Wycombe.
Tool company Ryobi have teamed up with Wycombe Wanderers star Adebayo Akinfenwa and High Wycombe charity Central Aid, Re-Build will source much needed furniture and household fittings to improve the lives of those that need them most.
New research from Ryobi has found that the condition of housing people live in is having a negative impact on family dynamics, social lives and personal wellbeing.
In the South East figures show that 33% of respondents to a survey on the issue said they would be embarrassed for people to see their house, and 21% suggested it did indeed impact their mental health.
Helen from Ryobi told Greatest Hits Radio that's why they've launched Re-Build:
"It's not an issue that people have so many eyes on, so they might not be aware of it. It might not be something that impacts most peoples every day lives but for some it is their every day life.
"When you look at it and you see children have no bed, or families who have to decide between a microwave and a fridge its something we wanted to highlight to people but while encouraging change.
"This campaign supports people who really need these items but also looks at the issue of reworking items and upcycling, the two issues marry quite nicely."
Across the UK's regions, this issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the South East, 38% have struggled financially during lockdown, and one in five have seen their home fall into disrepair as a result.
Adebayo Akinfenwa explains that the pandemic changed the way he thought about his home, and is part of the reason he is backing this campaign:
"Last year being at home I looked at it differently, because I had to stay there and I looked at what I had and didn't have.
"I suppose it's not naivety but its taking things for granted, like a bed. Me and my kids would probably see a bed as a basic thing, but its not there are families staying on a single mattress.
"So being appreciative of what you have, and know when you can give back. Im guilty of throwing things out that maybe could have been fixed up for someone in this community.
"What I've always said about Wycombe is a its a family club, and that goes to the area too. You know if someone doesn't turn up for a game, you know when someone has don't well in school or if someone is going through a tough time.
"So that's why I think its imperative that we pull through as a community to help. Nothing is too small, if you can only give a few hours, or a desk or anything. Coming back to Covid it showed every little can help.
"Being a footballer we talk about the 1%, if 11 players for 1% then that's 22% and its that. If one person make a small difference its a big difference together."
Ryobi's Re-Build campaign was created specifically to tackle this problem but it also tackles the issue of furniture waste.
Re-Build reclaims these unwanted items of furniture and household fittings, refurbishes them using Ryobi's DIY skills and tools, and use Central Aid's local network to redistribute them to those most in need.
Stuart Allen, General Manager at Central Aid commented:
"Furniture poverty is a constant and in many cases hidden issue. We have been working in High Wycombe since 1906 and we work tirelessly every day to support people who often find themselves in housing where they have almost no furniture at all, but in all honesty, we can never do enough.
"The people we usually work with are in crisis, it could be a mental health crisis, or a lone parent, or someone coming out of hospital. People who need these items but could never afford to get them for themselves.
"I can't encourage people enough not to throw out their unwanted furniture as there are so many people who need exactly the type of furniture that so often gets discarded - we're here every day to take it in and get it to people in need.
"We desperately need volunteers, a retired engineer for example. If you have a skill we could use, we need it even for a few hours a week to help keep up with demand.
"Most of all though we need space. We helped 500 people in the pandemic, we are doing twice as many deliveries and going twice as far. But we can't keep up because we can't store all the furniture people need in this space."
From Monday 21st June a workshop and donation centre has opened where the Central Aid and Ryobi team will be hard at work sorting and refurbishing furniture and fittings for redistribution.
Based in Central Aid's furniture warehouse on West Richardson Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2SB, members of the public are encouraged to drop off any items they no longer want.