Adur Furniture Network (AFN) is a furniture re-use/recycle network based in Shoreham-by-Sea, servicing Adur, Worthing and Brighton & Hove. We collect donated furniture, white goods, TVs and audio equipment; repair, restore and cleanse them and deliver to the customer.
AFN is a non profit making organisation and we have been trading successfully since 1993. We are a community project that has a passion to help ordinary people. We offer low cost goods to families in need that have been referred to us or who can demonstrate that they are in receipt of social benefits.
Our aims are
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To help relieve poverty by providing good quality very inexpensive furniture to people in need
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Provide supported voluntary work for vulnerable people and the long term unemployed
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To work within equal opportunity guidelines to provide a sustainable community service for local residents
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To help prevent waste and reduce landfill by recovering redundant furniture and putting it back into use
Donating to the Adur Furniture Network
We are a community project that relies on donations from the public in order to meet our aims. We are always happy to discuss any possible donations, collections, house clearances and/or garage clearances. Please contact us on 01273 441700 to discuss your requirements.
Our customers are always looking for good quality furniture and our staff can repair, restore and rejuvenate most furniture, white goods, TVs and audio equipment. That said, there are laws and regulations that we must comply with and our Furniture Assessor will be happy to discuss these with you on collection.
Many of our donators take the easy option of GIFT AIDing their donation to us. This is a government scheme whereby we can claim an additional 20p for every £1 raised from the sale of the donated items. Our staff have the forms and information for your convenience.
We are always in need of single or double beds, also bunks/high sleepers and clean serviceable mattresses. We have a constant need for serviceable washing machines and fridge / freezers.
We are given a huge variety of domestic electrical appliances, examples of which you will find in most UK homes. In addition we have an equally diverse selection of furniture to suit the majority of tastes. As you might imagine sometimes we have to repair items that have been donated. In order to ensure that our customers are purchasing safe pre-used items, we run test and PAT test electrical items. Furniture items are similarly inspected for damage and if required are repaired in our workshop.
About Us
Adur Furniture Network is a non profiting making organisation registration 28163R, which was set up set as an independent joint initiative by Adur District Council and the Shoreham & District Mental Health Association in May 1993. In June 2006, we opened our second retail outlet called Revival which is situated in Brunswick Road, Shoreham. In November of 2007, we moved our main operation to 378 / 380 Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea giving us a higher profile to the general public. This property is on the main road with a regular bus service which stops outside and we have a café next door where you can have a coffee while you contemplate a possible purchase.
The ethos of AFN is to assist people on low and fixed incomes by providing affordable good quality furniture, to provide supported voluntary work and to save goods from going to landfill. We have been a community based project for over 15 years and would like to thank all those who have supported us.
Over the past 12 months we have been supported by over 3800 customers of which over 550 have been referrals. We have saved over 95 metric tonnes of goods from going to landfill this year (2008), which is good for the environment. The DETR gives a figure of 441kg of domestic waste produced per person per year.
AFN has 5 employees, a project manager, project administrator, driver and drivers mate and a retail sales person, who work on a full and part time basis. We have currently over 18 volunteers who support us and donate hundreds of hours of their time each year. Volunteers give as much or as little time to the project as they see fit – we have many people who come in once or twice a week or even just for a morning. We value all our volunteers for their dedication and support.
AFN Ltd has been a member of the Furniture Re-Use Network (FRN) since we first set up trading. The FRN is the national body which supports, assists and develops charitable re-use organisations across the UK.
Volunteering
We welcome people from all walks of life who find they have some free time during the day which they would like to offer to our community project.
We need people with different skills to help in numerous areas of the business, from assistance with the management committee to shop work and furniture repairs. Perhaps one of these people could be you!!!!
Adur Furniture offers important work placement schemes to people from the Mental Health Service, the Probationary Service and youth opportunity placements.
In a safe, caring and supportive environment, the individuals gain in confidence and self respect which are essential ingredients to ease them back into the work place.
We need volunteers to help sustain the charity work; that's why your voluntary input is very important to us.
If you live in the local community and would like to help, please give us a call on 01273 414700. We would be delighted to discuss any volunteering opportunities.
