Intervention: Cowes, Isle of Wight
Fund: Community Investment Fund
Date of Investment: July 2016
Impact Area: Housing and local facilities
Beneficiary Group: People experiencing long-term unemployment, People living in poverty and/or financial exclusion
Storeroom2010 was set up by Nick and Wendy Miller as a charity. It helps address high levels of unemployment and child poverty across the Isle of Wight, by selling furniture and household goods donated by the public, to help deprived families furnish their homes.
The charity also runs the Cowes Men’s Shed project. This brings together vulnerable people who are at risk of isolation and encourages social connections, alongside building skills in carpentry and horticulture.
The loan enabled the charity to purchase the warehouse it had been using to store and sell furniture
Improved quality of life, training, and work experience
Low income families and socially isolated individuals in the Isle of Wight
Over 150,000 Kgs of furniture saved from landfill annually. Engagement and training of around 50 vulnerable adults per year
Storeroom2010 was at risk of losing the property if withdrawn from rental market. Building purchase has been essential for the organisation’s long-term sustainability
Storeroom has a track record of selling second-hand furniture and supporting vulnerable people. Loan serviced by surplus from furniture sales
SASC really helped our case with Power to Change. They understood what we do and how important our charity is to vulnerable people living on the Isle of Wight.
Wendy Miller, Co-Founder
