Giving furniture a second chance – Hub4Stuff tackles furniture poverty while helping Royal Haslar residents “rightsize”

19th April 2024

Every year in the UK, 22million household items, many in mint condition, are taken to landfill, while one in four Brits live in furniture poverty. Local charity Hub4Stuff has made it its mission to reduce the number of items heading to the tip, instead redirecting and delivering them to low-income families to help make their homes feel like, well, home. At the same time, they help those “rightsizing” from larger homes give their treasured, but now superfluous, items a new lease of life.

“We have now helped over 1,000 families, and saved over 2,000 pieces of furniture that were destined for landfill, cutting down on nearly 17 tonnes of waste,” says Patsie Ruzewicz, who was one of four original founders of Hub4Stuff in the spring of 2022, and who has recently helped it achieve charitable status. “Both donators and recipients benefit greatly from this service, and several residents at Royal Haslar have generously contributed their pre-loved items to us. Haslar Developments is our greatest supporter, providing a huge amount of storage space for our furniture in a unit once used to store medical supplies when the site was a hospital.”



With their dedicated van, Hub4Stuff collect donated furniture from homes and businesses and deliver it to those in need, largely in the Fareham and Gosport areas, although they will go a little further afield if necessary. Beds, chests of drawers, bedside tables and small dining tables, bookcases, cabinets, cots and white goods will all be considered, with some items required to meet Trading Standards and Fire Safety regulations. Hub4Stuff is, however, unable to accept clothing or sofas larger than two-seaters.

Alongside a commitment to alleviating poverty, reducing waste and tackling climate change, Hubs4Stuff also offers volunteering opportunities to individuals who experience barriers to employment, liaising with other local charities and helping people gain confidence and skills that can be transferred to the workplace.

“We’ve been busier than we could ever have imagined, and are currently looking for volunteers,” Patsie says. “We’re in particular need of ‘shifters and lifters’, who can help us move and deliver furniture.”

To donate furniture, volunteer or offer help, there are several ways to get in touch. Visit Hub4Stuff’s website at hub4stuff.co.uk, call 07387 364240, email thehub4stuff@gmail.com or visit the charity’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hub4Stuff/

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/Hub4Stuff/
 

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