Charity workers are excited about the potential to make a real difference to the lives of many more disadvantaged people, after investing in their own premises.
Lincoln-based chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co has leased a unit in Crofton Close, on the city’s Allenby Road Industrial Estate to Acts Trust – which was established by Alive, formerly Lincoln’s New Life Church in Newland.
The Trust’s Restore team said it is a great move which puts the initiative on a stronger footing. It previously had to use temporary accommodation in the city centre.
More space and more control over its premises means that, in particular, Restore will be able to store and provide more furniture for people in need and raise extra funds for its work.
Restore has several strings to its bow and aims to give immediate support to individuals and families in need and to work with them on a plan which is ultimately designed to put them on course for a much brighter future.
Restore Manager Simon Hoare said: “Alive founded Acts Trust in 2007 and since then we have been trying to alleviate poverty in the city, with the support of the church and others in the local community.
“We provide our services to people living in Lincoln and within the surrounding villages.”
Mr Hoare said Restore is confident it is helping thousands of people through a range of initiatives, which includes Lincoln Food Bank and Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which aims to help disentangle people from their debt problems.
Acts Trust’s Social Enterprise Manager Mike Darbandi said: “Through Restore Furniture, our recycled and up-cycled furniture project, we can both give items for free to people who need them and also renovate pieces to a high standard and
sell them through our online shop. This helps us to raise more money for our local community projects.
“We are happy to collect unwanted furniture and electrical goods, which must be in working order, for free from people willing to donate them. All they have to do is telephone us on 01522 542166.”
The Restore furniture project is also proving valuable in helping to get people back into the jobs market, said Mr Darbandi.
“Pinnacle People is a contracted provider of community work placements, through the Lincoln Jobcentre. People who have been out-of-work for a long time can typically do a 30-hours-a-week placement with us, which offers them work experience and the chance to build their skills,” he said.
Banks Long & Co Surveyor Jonathan Purkiss said: “We are pleased to have leased the Crofton Close unit to Restore and we are confident it will be ideal for its purposes.
“This is a popular area of Lincoln and attracts both a wide range of companies and charitable organisations, which are tempted by the fact that it offers easy access to the city centre and also to routes out of the city.”
