Households experiencing significant financial hardship and crisis have been able to create safe, settled and comfortable home lives thanks to a grant of £3,500 from The P&G Fund via Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Foundations Furniture used the grant to provide free, preloved furniture to 32 Gateshead households to rebuild their home lives after distressing circumstances including homelessness and fleeing abuse and violence. They received free, pre-loved beds, seating and storage to he long term financial and emotional burden they face during times of significant hardship and vulnerability.
By helping the households, which benefited 79 people including children living in poverty, they were able to quickly feel settled and focus on rebuilding other areas of their lives.
With support from The P&G Fund households were referred by local support services and experienced far reaching benefits when we spoke to them a few months after they received their furniture:
improved mental health and feelings of happiness and confidence
pride in the home, and in oneself
feeling of belonging in the community due to feeling settled and secure
feeling more sociable by having more visitors
feeling motivated to make improvements in other areas of life
increased feelings of independence
people feel settled and stable more quickly after crisis -avoidance of debt, which felt like the only other solution.
One beneficiary told us:-
"I was stressed and worried about how I was to get everything I needed for my home when I had to relocate to Gateshead with my young children. I was anxious to get my children settled and content. After I was supported by Foundations I feel more confident about moving forward, getting settled and feeling safe. I now have good daily routines for my family. I've since started studying at Newcastle college and plan to learn to drive too."
The charity is able to provide Crisis Recovery support thanks to the generosity of funders and we work hard to raise funds throughout the year. Funding for free furniture has now ended but support services can continue to signpost local residents to Foundations for support, for which there is a charitable fee. People who need support can also turn up any time to the shop on Askew Road West, Teams, NE8 2PB (Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm). There is no need to make an appointment.
If you work with vulnerable households in Gateshead and would like to be notified when the Crisis Recovery Support is re-opened, please email michelle@teamwork-dt.co.uk.
Foundations is a registered charity (1090034) that collects unwanted, usable furniture and electrical items from across Tyne and Wear to help Gateshead residents in hardship who struggle to afford to furnish their homes. We also provide opportunities for local people to volunteer to stay connected, gain new skills and experience, and to help support the community. To find out more, visit our website www.foundationsfurniture.co.uk, or call 0191 4778337.
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