Dumfries: Award-winning climate activist Laura Young celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Home Comforts programme, which upcycles furniture for those in need. The initiative has provided over 26,000 items and diverted 143 tonnes from landfills, benefiting communities across Scotland.
Award-winning climate activist and environmental scientist Laura Young, who is widely recognised as ‘Less Waste Laura’, took part in a significant celebration alongside tenants, staff, and board members from the Wheatley Foundation to mark a noteworthy achievement. The event commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Home Comforts programme, part of Wheatley Homes South, which operates around 10,370 homes in Dumfries and Galloway.
Home Comforts is a furniture upcycling initiative aimed at reducing environmental waste by collecting donated pre-loved furniture and white goods, restoring them to like-new condition, and supplying them to tenants in need. Laura Young remarked on the importance of second-hand furniture as a means to mitigate waste, stating, “Pre-loved second-hand furniture is one of the best ways to reduce waste. In Scotland, 80 per cent of our carbon footprint comes from the ‘stuff’ we buy. By extending the life of these items, Home Comforts is helping to tackle consumption and waste on a national scale and it’s been fantastic to see these items being distributed for free to those in need.”
Since its inception, Home Comforts has not only benefitted Wheatley tenants in the South of Scotland but has also extended its services to communities in Glasgow, the East of Scotland, and tenants of Loretto Housing Association. Over the last decade, the programme has made a significant impact, providing more than 26,000 items of furniture to over 7,300 homes. Last year alone, it successfully diverted over 143 tonnes of furniture and white goods from landfills.
The initiative has further strengthened its reach by collaborating with various charities, including SHAX in Dumfries, The Community Re-use Shop in Stranraer, and Foursquare in Edinburgh. Paddy Gray, chairman of Wheatley Foundation, highlighted the importance of the service by stating, “Our Home Comforts service has been a lifeline for many of our tenants over the past 10 years.” This development marks not only a celebratory milestone but also underscores the ongoing efforts to support communities through sustainable practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
