TOP OF THE TREE

David Brooks (Amaryllis), Mark Penn (T.R.E.E.), Richard Featherstone (FRN)

T.R.E.E. from Essex led the way at the 2009 national Furniture Reuse Network Awards.  Held at its annual conference in Cheshire this month the President's Awards entered their second year in style.

Standing out from 320 voluntary sector organisations in the Furniture Reuse Network was Tendring Reuse and Employment Enterprise (T.R.E.E.) of Essex in recognition of their services to the reuse sector and impressive partnership arrangements with business and local government.

Spokesperson for the judges, FRN President Richard Featherstone said:  “T.R.E.E. has been an inspiration to other projects all year.”  Over the last year T.R.E.E. has saved a project in Chelmsford from closure, opened new facilities for testing and repairing fridges, developed a range of partnerships with local private companies, assisted other local charities in developing systems for reusing electrical items and assisted an increased number of people in Essex on low incomes through the provision of low cost furniture and white goods.

T.R.E.E. manager Mark Penn was stunned they had been chosen by the judges but said “all the staff and volunteers have made it possible for me to give time to supporting our network colleagues”.

Another award category, Rising Star was given to the PREEN project of Bedfordshire, a newcomer to the furniture reuse sector. PREEN manager Kathy Lewis was noted by the judges for her ability to make the organisation self-sustaining and provide a very supportive environment for volunteers to learn life skills.

Award judges said “This project has got off the ground by being  self-propelled. Everyone has been impressed by the energy and commitment of the staff and the volunteers to make furniture reuse a sustainable social enterprise.”

A third award was dedicated as an individual prize for the Seasoned Campaigner.  The furniture reuse sector has been coordinated as a network for 19 years. “During this time” said Richard, “There have been some dedicated workers who have given a long and substantial service to furniture reuse; they have gained an expertise which they happily pass on to colleagues in the network.

The award for Seasoned Campaigner, an outstanding individual that the sector most admires for their thinking and standards of service was Kelvin Hughes of the Newbury Furniture Project.  The Newbury Project is renowned for putting its volunteers at the forefront of its operation as well as providing support to projects in Hampshire.

FRN

 

The Furniture Re-use Network is the national body representing and promoting charitable re-use organisations with a focus on reducing poverty.  It has over 300 members across the UK.  The FRN was established in 1989 and is a charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee.  Last year its members helped 750,000 low income households providing over 2 million household items.

 

 

President Awards

 

Judging the Awards for the FRN was renowned journalist Polly Toynbee, a longstanding supporter of furniture reuse, and eco-designer, Oliver Heath who last year designed a furniture reuse art installation for the London projects.

 

The nominations were all high quality projects in their field. Judges based their final decision not only on the high standard of service nominations provide to the people of their immediate community whether they be beneficiaries of the furniture service or volunteers in training,   but a deciding factor was the contribution they were also able to make to the wider network.  Next year’s awards will be judged on another basis to favour projects with different strengths.

 

Sponsor

 

The sponsor of the Reuse Awards was Amaryllis Environmental Services, a leading company in the facilities management sector.  An Amaryllis spokesperson said “we are very happy to be involved with the FRN in a way to promoting furniture reuse and pushing for higher standards”.   Our aim is to continue with our successful efforts to reduce the quantity of waste our company generates.  Last year Amaryllis won the Award from Facilities Management Magazine for its sustainable partnership with British Airways.  “We will continue to improve our reuse and recycling performance in 2009 and the way forward is for Amaryllis to develop strong links into the FRN infrastructure” he said.