About The SOFA Project

The SOFA Project operates in the area formerly known as Avon, with headquarters in West St, Old Market. We collect household furniture and appliances from households on a daily basis. The items are brought back to our premises, and in the case of electrical appliances fully refurbished, before being made available at a low a price as possible in our retail outlets. These can then be delivered to the new owners.

Working alongside this we have two other main activities, an electrical workshop and an office furniture operation.

The electrical workshop has the potential to repair and refurbish up to 100 major appliances a week. This will be a mixture of items collected from households, items that are bought in from retail operations (the ones that are taken away when a new machine is purchased) and those that are purchased from manufacturers (graded) having been returned as a result of damage or failure under warranty.

The office furniture operation is capable of accepting large deliveries of redundant office furniture which may be generated as the result of an office closure or refurbishment. We can also take on office clearances using our own staff and vehicles. The furniture is made available for small businesses, charities or for home offices at very reasonable prices. Any items that cannot be re-used or re-manufactured are fully recycled. We operate a hire facility, which is used on a regular basis by TV and film companies for set design.

To support all of these activities, we work with other organisations to offer work placements and experience to those, who, for a number of reasons are currently excluded from the job market.

We divert items from landfill and unnecessary recycling by collecting unwanted furniture and electrical appliances from households and businesses and then extend their life through re-use.

We offer work placements and volunteering opportunities to those currently excluded from employment. Working to refurbish the items that we collect provides good training and work experience opportunities.

We help those in need by supplying low cost household items through our retail activities. In partnership with other charities, we supply items free to those most in need.