A FURNITURE and household items recycling project that helps lower-income people has celebrated moving into new premises.

Newground ReUse, which provides access to good-quality new and used furniture and other items at affordable prices, has launched its base in Pickup Street, Blackburn.

The upcycling and recycling scheme, which began in 2013, was based at Glenfield Park in the town, but moved to Pickup Street last October. It opened to the public in May but staged a ‘relaunch’ event yesterday.

ReUse co-ordinator Sara Knagg said the footprint of the new base was smaller but the higher roof gave more capacity.

She said: “This is closer to town and it’s a better location, for public transport too. We have seen a greater footfall since we moved.”

Newground, part of the Together Housing Group, sells in store and online to help fund training and work programmes. It also runs a clearance and cleaning service for property owners, private landlords and registered social landlords, including Together Housing. Any profits go to the Newground Together charity.

It also runs training and work experience programmes to help unemployed people gain valuable skills through WorkSmart Together, which seeks employment opportunities.

The floods of December 2015 at Whalley created a big moment of need for the project, which has since come full circle.

Ms Knagg said: “We went down to help with dealing with the floods and looked at what people needed.

“The people there we helped have now been getting back in touch with us to donate back the items we helped with, now they are fully back on their feet.

“It is really nice that they have thought of us in this way - it shows there is a real community spirit in Whalley.”

As for demand generally from the East Lancashire area served, Ms Knagg says it is fairly constant. She said: “It is fairly steady. There is no seasonal trend or anything like that.

“It is just a question of what people need.”