Promoting inclusion and empowering individuals affected by mental health, poverty and social injustice
Founded in October 1993, the primary charitable object of Castle Furniture Project is to provide free or low cost household goods to disadvantaged families and individuals to relieve poverty and indebtness in Fife.
To that end, the project provides the transport and labour to collect donations free of charge from people throughout Fife. These donations are brought to the warehouse where they are sorted, assessed for condition, repaired where possible, renovated when feasible, and displayed in our warehouse in Cupar.
The project offers marginalised groups opportunities to work in a safe, supportive, inclusive environment. For many who lead chaotic lifestyles it is the first tentative step to leading a more structured life.
Being in a position to help others is a core element of this process and the furniture which the project collects and redistributes enables individuals to help other people who are facing extreme hardship.
It is this hidden element of the projects work that provides a truly inclusive environment that provides a service whereby vulnerable people offer their assistance to others in need whilst delivering a much needed services to the wider community economical, socially and environmentally.
The project also runs a Befriending Service which includes a drop in lounge in Cupar and a Lunch Club in Tayport. As people become older many can, unfortunately, experience isolation and loneliness perhaps as a result of bereavement, retirement, loss of mobility, illness or because families are busy or move away from the local area. This in turn can lead to loss of confidence, depression and general poor health which ultimately may contribute to older people leaving their home and moving into residential accommodation.
