10th October 2024
Sanctuary Supported Living
PropUp Co-Founders Kate Allen and Emma Chaplin
Residents at a Manchester homelessness service are benefiting from a generous donation of furniture and homeware provided by a social enterprise dedicated to rehoming, reselling, and recycling surplus items from the TV and film industry.
Sanctuary Supported Living’s Victoria House, which is part of CONNECT Manchester and provides accommodation and support for adults facing homelessness or housing-related crises, has received a variety of high-quality items - including beds, sofas, lamps, bedroom furniture, kitchen equipment, and soft furnishings such as rugs, throws, and cushions. This contribution comes from the London-based PropUp Project, a not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing industry waste and supporting local communities.
The PropUp Project, dedicated to sustainable practices, chose to donate these items after learning that Victoria House is one of the largest homeless accommodation providers in Manchester. The items, which would otherwise be unused or sent to landfill, have been instrumental in refurbishing vacant flats, assisting residents transitioning to living independently in their own homes, and enhancing communal spaces at Victoria House, which also provides emergency accommodation for short stays of two to three weeks to help prevent rough sleeping.
Local Service Manager, Louise Denbigh said: "Residents have been thrilled with the improvements. One person mentioned that they had never owned a new chest of drawers before, and now they feel a greater sense of pride in their living space. The changes have also encouraged more residents to use the communal lounge, which has become a popular place for people to sit together and socialise.
“The PropUp Project team reached out to us as they were looking to donate a significant number of items in one go, and we’ve been able to use the furniture to create comfortable, welcoming spaces for our residents. Their support has had a huge impact, particularly for those moving out of temporary housing into their own homes.”
The newly refurbished flats and communal areas are playing a crucial role in enhancing residents' wellbeing. Moving from rough sleeping to accommodation filled with brand new furniture has made a meaningful difference to people who have often faced many challenges in their lives.
"Having a homely environment gives people a sense of dignity and ownership, which is so important for mental health and wellbeing"
Louise added: “Having a homely environment gives people a sense of dignity and ownership, which is so important for mental health and wellbeing. A comfortable space to socialise in can make a real difference in someone's recovery and reintegration into the community.”
PropUp Project Co-Founder, Emma Chaplin, said: This is exactly why we set up PropUp Project - to support incredible community causes and prevent perfectly good props, sets and costumes being sent to landfill.
This was our first job in Manchester and it was brilliant to connect to so many incredible organisations like Sanctuary Supported Living and Victoria House. We're so glad we can show our support and appreciation for the work that they do in providing these donations.
To us it's a no-brainer - just because an item's life onscreen has come to an end, doesn't mean it should go to waste; as the old saying goes, one person's trash is another person's treasure, and we will continue our mission to spread the TV gold where it's needed.”
Today is World Homelessness Day and we are reminded of the critical importance of providing support and resources to those in need. For more information about donating to Victoria House, please email Victoria.House@sanctuary.co.uk.
For more information about Sanctuary Supported Living’s services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, see our latest news or find a service near you.
