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| Furniture charities struggling to cope with doubling in requests | |
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| Hundreds of secondhand furniture charities that distribute recycled fridges, cookers, beds and other basic household goods to Britain's most vulnerable families, have warned that they face rapidly growing demand from destitute clients. | Hundreds of secondhand furniture charities that distribute recycled fridges, cookers, beds and other basic household goods to Britain's most vulnerable families, have warned that they face rapidly growing demand from destitute clients. |
| In the latest barometer of poverty in Britain, the charities – which were recently hailed by ministers as a lifeline – have reported an increase of up to 100% in the demand for charity goods and warned of rising desperation among poorer families amid cuts to welfare entitlements and council budgets. | In the latest barometer of poverty in Britain, the charities – which were recently hailed by ministers as a lifeline – have reported an increase of up to 100% in the demand for charity goods and warned of rising desperation among poorer families amid cuts to welfare entitlements and council budgets. |
| They urged the government to rethink its controversial decision to cut hundreds of millions of pounds of local welfare assistance funding from 2015, saying it would hit the poorest the hardest and force low income families to turn to loan sharks and payday lenders. | They urged the government to rethink its controversial decision to cut hundreds of millions of pounds of local welfare assistance funding from 2015, saying it would hit the poorest the hardest and force low income families to turn to loan sharks and payday lenders. |
| The furniture re-use sector was described in March by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, as "a proper lifeline for many people". In a speech to the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN), Pickles said it was common sense for local authorities to support the work of furniture charities in order to "take the weight off the state". | The furniture re-use sector was described in March by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, as "a proper lifeline for many people". In a speech to the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN), Pickles said it was common sense for local authorities to support the work of furniture charities in order to "take the weight off the state". |
| But in a letter to Pickles and other ministers, including the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, the FRN warned it would not be able to step in entirely as the state retreated in its support and if the government plans to cut the £178m annual funding for English council local welfare budgets went ahead. | But in a letter to Pickles and other ministers, including the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, the FRN warned it would not be able to step in entirely as the state retreated in its support and if the government plans to cut the £178m annual funding for English council local welfare budgets went ahead. |
| The Department for Communities and Local Government said it had no plans to reinstate central funding for vulnerable families in need and that it was down to individual councils to decide whether to keep crisis schemes going. | The Department for Communities and Local Government said it had no plans to reinstate central funding for vulnerable families in need and that it was down to individual councils to decide whether to keep crisis schemes going. |
| A snapshot survey of the network's 250 members in England suggests that charity partnerships with council welfare schemes helped fund the supply of recycled furniture and white goods to at least 58,000 households in crisis in 2013-14. Some were also asked by authorities to supply food parcels to vulnerable clients. | A snapshot survey of the network's 250 members in England suggests that charity partnerships with council welfare schemes helped fund the supply of recycled furniture and white goods to at least 58,000 households in crisis in 2013-14. Some were also asked by authorities to supply food parcels to vulnerable clients. |
| The letter to Pickles says: "Many of our members operating throughout England have experienced a 100% increase in demand for essential furniture items such as beds, clothing, and debt advice from both working and on-benefit clients. Some are working with local authorities to provide emergency relief; many are not and are being swamped with requests." Even where furniture re-use charities did not receive funding from local authorities, demand increased because council officials and other agencies referred poor clients to them for help and support anyway. Some charities had set up food banks to cope with "the extent of need and desperation" among their clients. | The letter to Pickles says: "Many of our members operating throughout England have experienced a 100% increase in demand for essential furniture items such as beds, clothing, and debt advice from both working and on-benefit clients. Some are working with local authorities to provide emergency relief; many are not and are being swamped with requests." Even where furniture re-use charities did not receive funding from local authorities, demand increased because council officials and other agencies referred poor clients to them for help and support anyway. Some charities had set up food banks to cope with "the extent of need and desperation" among their clients. |
| A recent Guardian investigation showed that many English local authorities underspent on local welfare last year, and at the end of January were sitting on at least £67m in cash earmarked for people in crisis. On average, councils had used just 43% of their budget allocation, which some claimed indicated low demand for crisis support. | A recent Guardian investigation showed that many English local authorities underspent on local welfare last year, and at the end of January were sitting on at least £67m in cash earmarked for people in crisis. On average, councils had used just 43% of their budget allocation, which some claimed indicated low demand for crisis support. |
| FRN said some council underspends on local welfare reflected poor preparation and tighter eligibility rules, rather than low demand. "The problem of need just seems to have been outsourced to local voluntary organisations." | FRN said some council underspends on local welfare reflected poor preparation and tighter eligibility rules, rather than low demand. "The problem of need just seems to have been outsourced to local voluntary organisations." |
| Richard Lockwood, a development worker at the Wesley Community Furniture social enterprise, in Manchester, said the group had seen an increase in clients coming to them who could no longer access statutory help from the council because of spending cuts. | Richard Lockwood, a development worker at the Wesley Community Furniture social enterprise, in Manchester, said the group had seen an increase in clients coming to them who could no longer access statutory help from the council because of spending cuts. |
| "The onus is on us to help the best we can but we can't do something for nothing," he said. "The question for us now is, where is the money coming from for households in crisis?" | "The onus is on us to help the best we can but we can't do something for nothing," he said. "The question for us now is, where is the money coming from for households in crisis?" |
| A communities department spokesperson said: "In contrast to a centralised grant system that was poorly targeted, councils can now choose how best to support local welfare needs within their areas. What is right for, say, Barrow-in-Furness may not be for other authorities. | A communities department spokesperson said: "In contrast to a centralised grant system that was poorly targeted, councils can now choose how best to support local welfare needs within their areas. What is right for, say, Barrow-in-Furness may not be for other authorities. |
| "In the next spending round period, from April 2015 [the] government will continue to provide support to local authorities through general funds [in the] … commitment to reduce ring-fencing and end top-down Whitehall control." | "In the next spending round period, from April 2015 [the] government will continue to provide support to local authorities through general funds [in the] … commitment to reduce ring-fencing and end top-down Whitehall control." |
| Examples of rising demand provided by FRN members include: | Examples of rising demand provided by FRN members include: |
| • In Manchester, a charity said 90% of clients were sent to re-use projects as "unfunded referrals" by councils and other agencies They told FRN: "Council officers and staff from other organisations are referring many more people without financial support, expecting us to pull-in the slack" | • In Manchester, a charity said 90% of clients were sent to re-use projects as "unfunded referrals" by councils and other agencies They told FRN: "Council officers and staff from other organisations are referring many more people without financial support, expecting us to pull-in the slack" |
| • In Bromley, south London, FRN members reported a 100% increase in demand for free furniture. | • In Bromley, south London, FRN members reported a 100% increase in demand for free furniture. |
| • In Leicestershire demand for furniture rose 30% and food parcels 200%. | • In Leicestershire demand for furniture rose 30% and food parcels 200%. |
| • Derbyshire members noted a 75% increase in unfunded clients it suspected were "signposted" to the charity by local authorities. | • Derbyshire members noted a 75% increase in unfunded clients it suspected were "signposted" to the charity by local authorities. |
| • Sandwell in the West Midlands reported that demand had increased by 50% and was now "overwhelming". It said in one case it gave a secondhand electric cooker to a client who had been unable to afford to equip her new kitchen after being forced to move home as a result of the bedroom tax. | • Sandwell in the West Midlands reported that demand had increased by 50% and was now "overwhelming". It said in one case it gave a secondhand electric cooker to a client who had been unable to afford to equip her new kitchen after being forced to move home as a result of the bedroom tax. |