The activities of Precious Treasure Furniture C.I.C (PTF) have benefited the local community in a variety of ways. By way of providing affordable furniture to schools, children charities, hospitals, care homes, and other charitable organisations. PTF has paved the way for volunteers of all age-ranges, from young adults to the more mature, to gain much work experience. These include; assisting furniture deliveries & collections, administration, sales & advertising, updating online adverts and furniture repair and cleaning. This has provided them with a portfolio of training and practical hands-on work experience, which has boosted their confidence; some going on to gain employment in the community. PTF has hosted and funded summer and half-term programmes for young people (aged 10-18), including on & offsite sporting activities, gifts & talents evenings and workshops. Young children’s (aged 2-9) monthly activities evening, facilitating music workshops, cooking and arts & crafts. These also include one-to-one and group music lessons in piano, drums, acoustic guitar and recorder. Transportation services are available for vulnerable adults including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with mental health issues to attend community events. For wheelchair users - PTF has an inbuilt ramp on the premises to provide disabled access. We have also held individual group sessions for young people, gender focused activities and life skills training. In addition to the life-skills training sessions, there is also a life-skills manual available, and signposting for anyone seeking advice and support within community, mother and baby groups, debt and financial advice, emergency housing for the homeless, and support for housing and accommodation needs. We also held a subsidised residential visit to East Sussex attended by 48 people. The residential comprised of a range of team building and personal development activities for young people and the elderly alike, which allowed for collaboration, sharing, exploration and empowerment. The trip also provided an opportunity for the development of a major ongoing music project involving a large portion of attendees. Videography, instrumentation and singing were just some of the aspects of the project which were made available. We have also held community outreach events involving stalls and offering one-to-one support. An example of this is the monthly outreach to parents that visit our North End, Croydon stall, asking for advice in supporting their teenage children, when they see our youth teaching materials. We then signpost them in our youth sessions and share information about the topics the young people are being supported with, such as coping with peer pressure, drugs, bullying and issues relevant to what young people are experiencing today in our local community. This work has also facilitated the building of bridges between youth and parents due to culture conflict.

PTF stakeholders are members of the community, and church members who have given input for setting up and running the company. Consultation takes place by way of monthly meetings, verbal presentations re financial reports to beneficiaries, alongside texts, and announcements. Feedback is gathered from evaluations of specific events, and responses are used to shape the content of future programmes and the approach in delivering the activities. We continue to liaise with parents and young people during social evenings. Resulting in greater involvement of parents and carers, and more initiatives for outreach work within the local community led by the young people themselves. For example, young people have assisted in the organisation of our youth summer programme and community outreach event. The youth are also encouraged to use a suggestion box; the contents of which are regularly reviewed.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration