The Helping Hand Furniture Shop located on Cookson Street sells second hand furniture, some electrical goods and all sorts of interesting items.

From 5 February to 5 May 2007, we are trying out a pilot scheme – running a second Shop next door to our main Shop at 26 Cookson Street.

The second Shop will also have some electrical goods, bric a brac, bedding, tableware, kitchenware and clothes.

Through the Shops we create employment – in retail and on the two vans, which go the length and breadth of the Fylde and beyond to pick up donated goods and deliver sold furniture and white goods.

At present 11 people are employed through Helping Hand (Furniture Restoration) Limted. This is a Social Entreprise and all the proceeds from sales go to cover employment and running costs. Any surplus goes to the Charity to help it to keep running too.

We use donated furniture and items in two specific ways…………

Either to sell in the Shops and provide employment

Or to use in, what we call, Starter Packs – these are packages of furniture and as much as we can provide to set up a home. Furniture for the bedroom – bed, wardrobe, set of drawers; for the living room – three piece suite or two setaer settee and/or chairs, display unit, coffee table, TV unit/table; for the kitchen – table and chairs. What is provided depends on what we have.

>

The Starter Packs are given without charge for the furniture but we do ask for a contribution of £35 towards the cost of employment (the staff that put together the Starter Pack and deliver it) and the cost of running our vans.

Helping Hand (Furniture Restoration) works with over 40 agencies helping to provide furniture as they move into ‘new to them’ accommodation – there are so many reasons why people need our services……….

Where someone is moving from hostel accommodation to rented property, where they are fleeing a potentially dangerous situation and have to start again with either nothing or relatively little, where someone is elderly and needs support in independent living – Helping Hand of itself does not do everything, we work in conjunction with different support agencies throughout Blackpool and the Fylde and we take referrals for Starter Packs from all recognised agencies.

EMPLOYMENT

By doing this work we create opportunities for employment - for those who may find it difficult to get a job. During their time working for us, an employee builds up a work history and develops a CV for future employment.

Furniture Restoration Limited enables our staff to be developed through training and work experience, problem solving and growing together in a team.

The main Furniture Shop is located at

28-30 Cookson Street ,

Blackpool

FY1 3EF

Telephone Number:

(01253) 622960

PILOT SCHEME

2^ND Shop

5^th February to 5^th May 2007

This Shop is next to the Furniture Shop at:

26 Cookson Street

We sell some electrical goods, clothing, bric a brac etc

We also put together part of the Starter Packs in this Shop – the bedding, tableware and kitchenware

TALK TO US ABOUT POSSIBLE DONATIONS OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, CLOTHING, ELECTRICAL GOODS, BEDDING, CROCKERY, CUTLERY

WE NEED MANY ITEMS FOR SALE AND FOR OUR STARTER PACKS

PLEASE CALL (01253) 622960