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2007 Stats and views on illegal dumping
During 2007, The Salvation Army's Furniture Re-Use Project in Perth has grown and developed as a major player
in Furniture Re-Use in the Perth area. It has undertaken around 1400 free Furniture Collections, covering all household
furniture including electrical items, and as a result, diverted approximately 110 tonnes from landfill. 600 deliveries
have been made to customers plus an additional 1000 sales where items have been taken away by customers. Around 80%
of customers are estimated to be on low incomes - around 1250 people - and these have either purchased items at the marked
low prices, or by way of Social Worker referrals, received discounts. Approximately 20% of sales have been for people
known to be moving from homelessness into secure tenancies.
Turnover has increased greatly, which has helped
us employ our fourth full-time staff member. All staff have come through homelessness and are now enjoying lives in
full employment and secure tenancies. We have also hosted 7 volunteers who are or have been homeless. With
all this success in mind, it is disappointing that some people have taken advantage of our goodwill. On a number of
occasions throughout the last few months, staff have arrived at the Kilda Place warehouse to find items of furniture dumped
at the front door. This is despite a sign on the door requesting that donors refrain from doing this, but phone the
office to arrange a suitable collection/drop off time. To compound matters, the items left were not suitable for the
Furniture Project to use because they either didn't comply with Furniture and Fire Safety Regulations, or had been damaged
by rain, heavy frosts or dew, having been left out all night. Whilst The Salvation Army is always grateful for the
generosity of the general public, it gets frustrated by what can only be described as illegal dumping of waste which then
has to be disposed of at a cost to the project. As a self funding project, any unforeseen expenditure of this nature
means that it becomes harder to assist people in need. The Salvation Army Furniture Project offers a free collection
service within a 15 mile radius of its North Muirton base from Monday to Friday, and is open for people to bring items in
from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 3pm. We realise that these are not always suitable hours for everyone, but
have to work within the constraints of staff and resources available to us. The Salvation Army wishes to thank genuine
donors who have kept the Furniture Project going over the past year and does not want anyone to be put off donating in the
year ahead. It seems a shame that again it is the minority who spoil things but hopefully, reading this article will
encourage sensibility amongst them in the future.
Workshop Update
The electricians have been in, so the place is slowly taking shape. Just a bit more boarding to go then plastering
the we can go live!
| Exterior with new railings and staircase on LHS |
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| Inside the Workshop 1 |
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| Inside the Workshop 2 |
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| Testing/Cleaning Area 1 |
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| Testing/Cleaning Area 2 |
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Donation for Workshop
We are very grateful to have taken receipt of a financial donation from the Perth Model Lodging House Association (PMLHA),
part of which has been spent on purchasing a brand new bench saw. This saw will become a valuable resource as our workshop
area develops further (more news on that soon!). Members of the Association visited the project to officially present
their donation in front of local press.
Pictured below are (l to r): Daniel Rous (Furniture Project Manager), Bill Bannerman (Vice President, PMLHA),
Les Paskin (Skinnergate Centre Manager), Alan Robertson (Furniture Project Staff Member), Douglas Copland
(President, PMLHA).
Report from The Courier 13 June 2007
Workshop under construction
This month has seen the beginning of our workshop area being created. This has been delayed so much mainly due
to financial and other restrictions, but thanks to some local support and generous donations, we can now press ahead with
this. It is being constructed by our Resettlement Units own joiner with help from Furniture Project staff. When
completed, it will house an electrical testing area and a repair/renovation area. The latter will involve basic repairs
etc to wooden furniture as well as a valuable additional training resource for the residents of the Resettlement Unit.
Watch this space for more news on this exciting project.
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| The Framework Begins |
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| Part Plasterboarded |
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| The inside takes shape |
Quarterly Report for April to June 2006
Download a PDF copy of our quarterly report by clicking the link below:
Quarterly Report June 2006
Visit from Churches Together (Four Nations Ladies) Conference
Skinnergate Resettlement Unit's "forty:twenty" Furniture Project was visited recently by a group
who came under the banner of Action for Churches Together in Scotland. Meeting together for a Four Nations Ladies conference, the group had a
day out to visit places where the Church was in action in the Community. Major Ann Radford (CO, Govan) who was part
of the group, had approached Daniel Rous (Project Manager) to see if the ladies could visit the Furniture Project as she knew
of the practical ministry undertaken there. A brief tour was provided and Daniel gave a talk on the vision for the work,
what had been achieved so far and what was hoped for the future. He spoke of the former resident who was now employed
at the project; the 9 residents who had been used as volunteers; one former resident who still assisted as a volunteer; the
6 local unemployed people who had worked at the project through the New Deal Scheme; and the 7 former residents who had been
assisted with furniture for their flats. He also spoke of the fact that in the 15 months the project had been running,
over 140 local families had been helped with furnishings either through discounted packages or free of charge supply,
not including the countless others who had benefited through purchasing low cost furniture for their homes.
The ladies were greatly encouraged by what they had seen and were blessed to see the Church in action
in this way. They prayed Gods continued blessing on the project before continuing on their tour of the region.
forty:twenty on the air!
During July 2005, Perth FM - a local trial Radio Station - came to the airwaves and, amongst other
things, offered free advertising for local Charities and Community Groups. Perth Salvation Army took up this offer and
in 30 seconds managed to detail all its ministry in the Fair City, including this Furniture Project.
The station is now off to fill in paperwork to hopefully obtain a full-time licence which should
bring them back on air from December 2006. At that time, we will be back in the queue to receive more free advertising
as it has really proved its worth.
For more information on Perth FM, and to offer your support for their application, click here: http://www.perthfm.co.uk
Ceremony of Dedication and Thanksgiving
Commissioner Keith Banks (TC’s Representative in Scotland) was the guest of The Salvation
Army (Skinnergate) forty:twenty Furniture Project as it celebrated its first anniversary with a Ceremony of Dedication and
Thanksgiving. Representing the East Scotland Division, Major Bob McIntyre (DC)
welcomed the guests made up of local Social Welfare providers, Housing Association Representatives, local Salvation Army staff
and customers of the project. The Major said it was good to be gathered in what
was, without a doubt, a House of God, because His work was being undertaken there. Also
present was Depute Provost, Councillor John Flynn, representing Perth & Kinross Council.
In welcoming the Councillor, Major McIntyre said that The Salvation Army always sought to work alongside existing Social
welfare providers in order to assist in bringing the best possible service for local people.
Councillor Flynn responded by outlining how much the Furniture Project had assisted people referred by local Council
departments and thanked The Salvation Army for their on going work in Perth. Les
Paskin (Skinnergate Centre Manager) spoke of the background of the project and how he had been involved in the original vision
for this kind of work some ten years ago.
Having heard all that had been said, Commissioner Keith Banks spoke of his excitement
in being a part of the celebration of this project. He echoed Major McIntyre’s
words in that he was in no doubt that God was an integral part of the very practical work of this furniture project. With that thought in mind, the Commissioner unveiled a dedicatory plaque and prayed
Gods continued blessing on the work, before leading those gathered in an appropriate song of praise – “To God
be the Glory”.
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| Daniel Rous, Bob McIntyre, and Pauline and Keith Banks attempt to lift Councillor Flynn (seated) |
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