Our Community Investment Team is always looking for ways to work with local organisations who can help us to support our customers, and who we can also support in return to nurture the fantastic work that they do. One of these mutually beneficial partnerships in Sheffield is with St. Vincent’s Furniture Project.
St Vincent’s Furniture Project is a Sheffield-based arm of the national St Vincent de Paul (SVP) charity. Formed by an SVP group in Sheffield in 1987, they work in the city area to provide good-quality, second-hand furniture and household items to those in great need of them. With some funding from Sheffield City Council, they house their many donations from the public in their warehouse, which is sorted mostly by volunteers and then delivered to individuals who have been referred to them by organisations such as the council. Our Community Partnership Manager, Felix Dyer, first began our working partnership back in 2019, recognising the opportunity to both give and receive from the charity.
Reaching out to St Vincent’s, a partnership was drawn up; with some funding from Great Places, their collection fleets would take furniture from our void properties off our hands, and in turn our customers in need could be referred to their services. Many of our customers who we refer are first-time tenants, had been refugees, or had previously experienced homelessness.
This partnership had dwindled during the pandemic, but given a new boost in the last eighteen months. Currently, they receive £3,500 per year from our Neighbourhood Initiatives Budget, which goes towards faster collections and deliveries, as part of our deal, as well as funding the wider work that they do.
Their service is a greatly appreciated supplement to the work of our Neighbourhood Services Managers and the other resources they draw on for support for our customers, such as our Hardship Fund. In the first three quarters of the financial year 2024/25, 93 items were delivered to our customers, with the equivalent value of £4,378 if purchased new from high street retailers. This has included beds, bedding, tables and chairs, chest of drawers and wardrobes, without which many of our customers would struggle to truly make their house a home that they could live comfortably in. Giving these good quality items a second life not only helps our customers, but also supports our environmental goals by helping to reduce landfill.
Felix Dyer, our Community Partnerships Manager, commented:
Good community investment work involves recognising where there is community need and how best to fill the gaps in service provision. St Vincent’s Furniture Store are a very impressive local organisation who have the same commitment to supporting the vulnerable as ourselves. This enhanced partnership has had a sizable impact on our residents who experience furniture poverty and we hope to keep working together, developing our working practices to meet the latest need, for many years to come.
Tracy Haycox MBE, St Vincent’s Furniture Project Manager, commented:
At St Vincent’s Furniture Project, we believe that everyone deserves a safe and comfortable home. Our partnership with Great Places over the years has been invaluable. Receiving furniture and household items from their void properties is extremely beneficial, as we are always in need of household furniture to deliver to those in need locally. The financial support is massively appreciated and gives us much needed security. We have built trusting relationships with their housing officers and support staff, who regularly refer tenants in need of furniture to us. It’s a pleasure to work alongside Great Places to support and bring hope to families and individuals facing hardship.
It’s a truly successful partnership, and so we’re delighted to confirm that a new Service Level Agreement has been drawn up to continue into the 2025/26 financial year.
