Darwen furniture charity closes down

3:00pm Friday 17th February 2012 in Darwen

A CHARITY shop which provided furniture for people who were ‘struggling’ has closed down.

Darwen Churches Furniture Store was forced to shut up shop after its funding ran out.

Site manager Mike Gerrard described the closure as a ‘great shame’.

The store opened in September last year in response to the closure of Blackburn with Darwen Churches Action, which recycled and repaired old furniture to give to people on low incomes.

Darwen Churches Furniture Store ran from Ellenshaw Mill in Kay Street and employed five people including Mr Gerrard.

It offered customers three basic items for £20 and would collect used furniture and domestic appliances for redistribution to those who could not afford to buy new.

Mr Gerrard said the shop had tried to secure funding to continue the service but due to the current economic climate and competition from other charities it had folded.

Mr Gerrard said: “The funds have run out and unfortunately we haven’t been able to secure any more funding.

“A total of five jobs have gone including administration staff and delivery drivers.

“There was a grant passed over from the old organisation and it just didn’t last long enough for the next round of funding.

“We are disappointed. We have served a lot of people very well. And there are a lot of people who have established themselves in their homes that would not have done if we hadn’t have been here.

“It is a great shame. We aimed our service at people with very little and it’s those people who will struggle.

“The landlord has been very, very good to us. He has let us empty the buildings.

“We have good friends at the town hall, unfortunately they weren’t able to help us with the financial situation.

“It is a sign of the times.”

Comments (20)

3:26pm Fri 17 Feb 12

guinless says...

this is bad news i've donated furniture to this charity in the past surely darwen town council could have thrown some money this.
this is bad news i've donated furniture to this charity in the past surely darwen town council could have thrown some money this. guinless

3:42pm Fri 17 Feb 12

generalludd says...

Where they asked?
Where they asked? generalludd

4:36pm Fri 17 Feb 12

burner says...

A useful service, both for donators and recipients.
A useful service, both for donators and recipients. burner

5:21pm Fri 17 Feb 12

CapitaBackHander says...

You WHAT? Seriously suggesting the Town Council could have given money? You lot are blimming barmy! First off the Town Council exists because people were to lazy to vote no or voted yes because they had no idea what they were voting for - I suspect yes voters thought they were getting something of power over Blackburn having the say.
Secondly it is funded by an increase to mine and everyones council tax. My council tax is not to be used to bail out a charity that used up a grant. As the charity says - competition from other charitys made it cease.
Shame to see it go but that is the way it should be if it can't fund - I and the majority of others are not a charity.
You WHAT? Seriously suggesting the Town Council could have given money? You lot are blimming barmy! First off the Town Council exists because people were to lazy to vote no or voted yes because they had no idea what they were voting for - I suspect yes voters thought they were getting something of power over Blackburn having the say. Secondly it is funded by an increase to mine and everyones council tax. My council tax is not to be used to bail out a charity that used up a grant. As the charity says - competition from other charitys made it cease. Shame to see it go but that is the way it should be if it can't fund - I and the majority of others are not a charity. CapitaBackHander

7:02pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Malthus says...

Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources.
Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources. Malthus

7:02pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Malthus says...

Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources.
Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources. Malthus

7:02pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Malthus says...

Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources.
Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources. Malthus

7:42pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Malthus says...

Surely now is also the time to sell off the mayoral numberplate. In July 2010 it was valued at £200000. Therefore this is a luxury that we cannot afford in times of austerity. I am sure that the thousands that the sale would make for the borough would be able to provide real services for all. whereas at the moment what we are holding on to is just a piece of plastic with letters and numbers which has no real intrinsic value. What makes such items valuable is the fools who are impressed by them and the vanity of individuals who purchase them.
Surely now is also the time to sell off the mayoral numberplate. In July 2010 it was valued at £200000. Therefore this is a luxury that we cannot afford in times of austerity. I am sure that the thousands that the sale would make for the borough would be able to provide real services for all. whereas at the moment what we are holding on to is just a piece of plastic with letters and numbers which has no real intrinsic value. What makes such items valuable is the fools who are impressed by them and the vanity of individuals who purchase them. Malthus

7:44pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Malthus says...

Malthus wrote:
Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources.
Sorry for posting same thing several times and also for the split posting.
[quote][p][bold]Malthus[/bold] wrote: Perhaps forgoing the jubilee mugs and using the saved cash for this project would be a more efficient use of resources.[/p][/quote]Sorry for posting same thing several times and also for the split posting. Malthus

7:44pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

CapitaBackHander wrote:
You WHAT? Seriously suggesting the Town Council could have given money? You lot are blimming barmy! First off the Town Council exists because people were to lazy to vote no or voted yes because they had no idea what they were voting for - I suspect yes voters thought they were getting something of power over Blackburn having the say.
Secondly it is funded by an increase to mine and everyones council tax. My council tax is not to be used to bail out a charity that used up a grant. As the charity says - competition from other charitys made it cease.
Shame to see it go but that is the way it should be if it can't fund - I and the majority of others are not a charity.
Strongly Agrees
[quote][p][bold]CapitaBackHander[/bold] wrote: You WHAT? Seriously suggesting the Town Council could have given money? You lot are blimming barmy! First off the Town Council exists because people were to lazy to vote no or voted yes because they had no idea what they were voting for - I suspect yes voters thought they were getting something of power over Blackburn having the say. Secondly it is funded by an increase to mine and everyones council tax. My council tax is not to be used to bail out a charity that used up a grant. As the charity says - competition from other charitys made it cease. Shame to see it go but that is the way it should be if it can't fund - I and the majority of others are not a charity.[/p][/quote]Strongly Agrees Michael@ClitheroeSince58

8:11pm Fri 17 Feb 12

Excluded again says...

It sounds like the good may have been sacrificed to the best.

If the funding was running out, then why did they keep charging just £20 for 3 items? £20 for two items might have kept the wolf form the door a bit longer - long enough to secure more funding and drop prices again.

The argument that people could not afford these prices makes no sense - as now those people will have to pay far, far more.
It sounds like the good may have been sacrificed to the best. If the funding was running out, then why did they keep charging just £20 for 3 items? £20 for two items might have kept the wolf form the door a bit longer - long enough to secure more funding and drop prices again. The argument that people could not afford these prices makes no sense - as now those people will have to pay far, far more. Excluded again

8:58pm Fri 17 Feb 12

anotherview says...

The Mayoral number plate may be worth £20,000/£200,000; whatever. But surely it didn't cost anywhere near that much, so initially it was a sound purchase. Sell it AND invest the proceeds and use the income for the needy, I could agree with. But flogg it off and give the money to the druggies, unmarried mothers and the work-shy, and it will be lost forever and forgotten in a week.
The Mayoral number plate may be worth £20,000/£200,000; whatever. But surely it didn't cost anywhere near that much, so initially it was a sound purchase. Sell it AND invest the proceeds and use the income for the needy, I could agree with. But flogg it off and give the money to the druggies, unmarried mothers and the work-shy, and it will be lost forever and forgotten in a week. anotherview

10:43pm Fri 17 Feb 12

living the end times in BB1 says...

Am sick of the sight of charity shops and the likes.People begging in the street for this cause and that cause.Its time the government started to charge these charities tax on items they sell it would stop all the dodgey ones setting up and put a few bob back into the ecomony.
Am sick of the sight of charity shops and the likes.People begging in the street for this cause and that cause.Its time the government started to charge these charities tax on items they sell it would stop all the dodgey ones setting up and put a few bob back into the ecomony. living the end times in BB1

10:43pm Fri 17 Feb 12

l m h jones says...

mmm another view probably hasnt read the latest unemployment figures when spouting the daily express. bring back the workhouse i hear in another view response..well actually what about the "big society" idea which this project was actually undertaking on the ground instead of which another five people unemployed more families unable to access basic furniture (no crises loans anymore) and from a purely selfish point of view is anotherview happy to pay to have old furniture taken away by bwd council rather than recycling?
mmm another view probably hasnt read the latest unemployment figures when spouting the daily express. bring back the workhouse i hear in another view response..well actually what about the "big society" idea which this project was actually undertaking on the ground instead of which another five people unemployed more families unable to access basic furniture (no crises loans anymore) and from a purely selfish point of view is anotherview happy to pay to have old furniture taken away by bwd council rather than recycling? l m h jones

7:20am Sat 18 Feb 12

annefromlancs says...

You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items.
You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items. annefromlancs

7:21am Sat 18 Feb 12

annefromlancs says...

You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items.
You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items. annefromlancs

7:21am Sat 18 Feb 12

annefromlancs says...

You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items.
You can still donate your furniture/bric a brac etc to the hospice, they have a store in Blackburn and will come to collect your items. annefromlancs

11:10am Sat 18 Feb 12

louderfasterlonger says...

This is the problem with recession.... more people needing and less willing to give.
This is the problem with recession.... more people needing and less willing to give. louderfasterlonger

12:19pm Sat 18 Feb 12

living the end times in BB1 says...

louderfasterlonger wrote:
This is the problem with recession.... more people needing and less willing to give.
Thats why they should tax charities at times when people are using the services more.It would generate money back into the ecomony if they had to pay VAT on items they sell on to the public.35p on a £2 item isn't a lot to pay as you would only be purchasing from honourable charities.
[quote][p][bold]louderfasterlonger[/bold] wrote: This is the problem with recession.... more people needing and less willing to give.[/p][/quote]Thats why they should tax charities at times when people are using the services more.It would generate money back into the ecomony if they had to pay VAT on items they sell on to the public.35p on a £2 item isn't a lot to pay as you would only be purchasing from honourable charities. living the end times in BB1

12:48pm Tue 21 Feb 12

milano says...

Darwen furniture store didn't open in september last year it has been running and operating from there for several years. Also the people working there used to be volunteers or on work placement through new deal if this was still the case there would be no need for 5 employed staff thus saving money on wages?
Darwen furniture store didn't open in september last year it has been running and operating from there for several years. Also the people working there used to be volunteers or on work placement through new deal if this was still the case there would be no need for 5 employed staff thus saving money on wages? milano

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