Big Womble encourages furniture re-use

An armchair owned by Joanna Lumley, a pedal bin belonging to Alastair McGowan, and a T-shirt worn and signed by singer Debbie Harry will be raffled off today in The Big Womble – a charity event at Wimbledon College to promote furniture re-use.

Organisers the Furniture Reuse Network (FRN) say the event has been organised to encourage people to become Wombles for a day by making good use of old furniture.

The UK throws away millions of household items and furniture every year, many of which could be used.

Every tonne of furniture rescued from landfill saves nearly three tonnes of carbon emissions.

FRN helps 3-4 million households every year, supplying them with affordable furniture, electrical items, computers, bicycles, and other household items.

These are collected from households, council sites and businesses across the UK by 400 independent charities.

Paul Smith, FRN chief executive, said: “We are excited that celebrities have seen the value of what we do and are supporting the re-use sector with donations of prizes.

“Money raised will go to supporting the work the FRN and its members do to reduce poverty in Britain.”