Pictured: Volunteer Lee Dawson with Mark Marriot 

Nottingham-based charity, Family First, has won a coveted grant of £10,000 from Boots Charitable Trust.

The Family First Furniture Recycling Project, which has been based in Alfred Street for the past 46 years, has put the money to good use by purchasing a much needed van for furniture collections.  

Family First, part of the LHA-ASRA social housing group, offers a free collection service for unwanted furniture, in good condition, which meets basic safety requirements.

Items are graded for quality, and are either earmarked for repairs and cleaning, or shipped to one of the charity's four 'Recycle Reuse' stores in Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Hucknall and Nottingham.

Yvonne Colebourne, business development manager, said: "We operate a rotation system, if an item doesn't sell in two weeks in one store, we move it to one of the others. It keeps the stock fresh."

"A lot of the furniture is also given away free to those in desperate need, due to fire or flood damage at their home for example."

Yvonne continued: "There is a referral system made up of over 200 agents, such as charities, councils and social services. Over 700 people in need come to us through this system."

Unlike most charity shops, Family First's outlets offer a 'High Street' shopping experience similar to the commercial retail sector. Donated furniture is laid out in themed 'rooms,' displaying bedroom furniture or nursery equipment, for example, to best effect.

If you wish to make a furniture donation, please call 0800 013 0497.