What is Recycle Week?
Recycle Week is an annual awareness campaign dedicated to reducing landfill waste and is taking place from 14-20 October. To support this initiative, we are highlighting our free furniture collection service. Donating preloved furniture has never been easier, and your contributions will help raise vital funds for specialist care for people with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon.
In the UK, around 44.4% of household waste is currently recycled. The government has set an ambitious goal to boost this to 65% by 2035. Furniture recycling and upcycling schemes offer fantastic ways to help meet this target, reduce landfill waste, and give a second life to pre-loved items.
How Rowcroft supports recycling
Robert Collins, Furniture & Logistics Manager at Rowcroft emphasised the importance of furniture donations: “As part of the Rowcroft furniture team, we feel that we play an important part in reducing what is a growing burden on landfill waste by actively encouraging the reusing/upcycling of unwanted furniture. The generous donations that we receive not only help protect the environment, but they also help raise much needed funds for the hospice.”
Each year, Rowcroft provides specialist care for 2,500 patients and their loved ones, from Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor, with 80% of patients cared for in their own homes. This wouldn’t be possible without the support and generosity of the local community.
Caroline Beazley, Retail Logistics Coordinator at Rowcroft explained: “I find my role very rewarding, especially when you hear the heartfelt feedback from relatives of those who have passed away under our care. Their gratitude often extends to supporting the charity with donations of remarkable pieces of furniture, which are then sold in our wonderful shops, and the funds generated go directly to helping patients.”
What furniture can you donate?
We can accept good quality, preloved furniture, which is then sold in our Preston and Paignton shops. All donations reduce landfill waste and contribute to our mission to make every day the best day possible, enabling families to share precious moments together.
This year has been particularly tough for hospices across the UK, with funding issues putting the sustainability of care at risk. Rising costs, decreased charitable giving, stagnating government funding, and increased demand for end-of-life services are leading to the urgent need for community support and funding to keep these vital services going.
If you want to support your local hospice by arranging a free furniture collection. Simply call the Furniture Collections Line on 01803 210832, available Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 3pm or visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/furniture-collections
More blogs from Rowcroft
- Make your donation go further with Gift Aid
- Light up a Life this festive season
- Nickie’s journey into spiritual support