DONATING YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE
When you donate furniture you are
- Reducing the amount of bulky waste going to land fill or incineration, thereby reducing your carbon footprint.
- Contributing to the community by helping us to provide low cost furniture and household items to people in Stafford & District on low incomes or who are in receipt of income based benefits.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do I have to do?
Please call 01785 606674. We will ask you about the items you have to donate and arrange an appointment to pick them up. As the office is not always manned we have an answer phone, please leave your details and as soon as we can we will contact you. Alternatively you can reach us via the ‘contact us’ link at the top of the page.
What can I donate?
We welcome donations of most types of household furniture and any other items of bric a brac and household effects. All items need to be in a condition suitable to pass straight on to someone in need. Unfortunately we have no facilities to clean or repair furniture at present.
Do you accept things for babies?
Yes.
Are there any restrictions on what you take?
Yes.
Items have to meet current safety legislation. In particular we can only accept upholstered items if there is a label attached affirming that it complies with the 1988 (or later) regulations. Mattresses have to be in a good clean condition with no rips, tears or stains and carry a label which refers to BS7177 sewn into the end wall.
We do, however reserve the right to politely decline to accept, at the van crew’s discretion, any item offered depending on our needs at the time of contact, or the requirements of the current safety legislation. If this is the case they will explain the reasons why.
How much notice must I give?
We usually need a week to ten days’ notice, although on occasion we may be able to collect sooner. If you wish to donate furniture to us, please leave yourself and us as much time as you can. All offers of donations of furniture are very gratefully acknowledged.
Can I drop off my donations at your premises?
Our warehouse is 6 miles from Stafford and not continuously manned so we cannot offer this service. Small items of household bric a brac, however, may be dropped off at our office with prior notice.
What happens to the furniture I’ve donated?
The furniture is brought back to our warehouse where it is thoroughly checked, tested, photographed and stored. Clients who have been referred to us then view the furniture via computer in our office.
Is there a collection charge?
We do not charge for collecting furniture but when calling if you would like to make a cash donation to the charity, however small, it will be most gratefully accepted. If you do make a cash donation you can sign on the collection sheet to use gift aid. For every pound you donate we can claim back an additional 28p from the Inland Revenue.
Where does the money go?
Stafford Furniture Exchange is a non profit organisation. Any cash received by the charity goes back into the scheme to help us to provide our valuable services to the community.
Disposal
Unfortunately we do not have the facilities to dispose of your unwanted
goods, please dispose of them thoughtfully. Contact your local council
who operate a collection scheme.
Stafford Borough Council for information on local waste and recycling
visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/static/page5827.htm