Background |
One of the long standing aims of Kings Church has been to serve the local community unconditionally,
regardless of their gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, lifestyle or physical
or mental ability, particularly those in need and disadvantaged.
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In 1994, after consultations with Brentwood Borough Council and the Brentwood Council for
Voluntary Services, we set up Kings Church Furniture Exchange. Brentwood Council loaned us
three lock up garages and we were able to provide this as a free service to residents of
Brentwood Borough.
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Through the Furniture Exchange we collected good quality second-hand furniture, household and
white goods donated by the general public and passed them on to those in need in the greater
Brentwood area, typically homeless families and individuals as a result of housing crisis.
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During our first 10 years we were typically making about 8-10 collections or donations most
Saturdays and in an average week we would deliver to about 2-3 needy families, so each year
we are helping just under 100 households.
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The local housing stock is unfurnished and in most instances the people we are helping have been
referred by Brentwood Council, Social Services, the Community Mental Health team or local housing trusts.
Initial contact is made by telephone and then face to face to determine their exact needs,
which might include carpet, bedding, kettle, toaster, crockery, cutlery, a cot or highchair,
curtains and possible a non perishable food starter pack.
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These latter items only being provided to those who are destitute and were originally funded by grants
from a local inter church homeless charity, (ICAGH), run by representatives from different
churches locally.
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Thanks to some successful fundraising in 2004 we were able to replace our aged box trailer
with a new Luton transit van with a tail lift, which improved our efficiency considerable.
In October of that year we set up Lighthouse Furniture Project Limited, as a way of removing
any liability from the church trustees. Thanks to a significant grant from CRED, a Big Lottery scheme aimed at
reducing waste to landfill, we were able to rent our current premises allow us to display
items and offer clients a choice as well as employing two staff.
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In 2006 we added a second van and became VAT registered and in the following year having developed the workshop, we took on a full time appliance engineer. We also launched a Community Repaint Scheme, became a registered charity and in partnership with Epping Forest District Council opened a centre in Waltham Abbey which closed in 2008 due to H&S concerns.
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2009 was another successful year with further growth, a new database stock control system was added and we achieved PQASSO level 2. We also strengthen our links with Homes in Havering and with a variety of support agencies.
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© 2007 Lighthouse Furniture Registered Charity Number 1120398
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