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Edinburgh Furniture Initiative |
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Thursday, 21 June 2007 |
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Edinburgh Furniture Initiative (EFI) is a Four Square project, established to provide free second hand items to people on low incomes. This project aimed to expand EFI services, allowing it to access materials from civic amenity sites and divert these materials either to EFI service users or on to other community reuse groups.
Plan
The project idea
This project aimed to divert items taken to two civic amenity sites in Edinburgh (Seafield and Craigmillar) from landfill. Items would then be repaired if necessary and distributed free of charge to EFI clients and other community groups. The model involved two full-time site workers based at civic amenity sites who would be responsible for collecting usable items. 14 New Deal placements and eight volunteer placements were also envisaged in the application.
The key elements of the project were:
- to divert materials which would otherwise be landfilled and make them available to clients on low income who are moving into new tenancies;
- to increase the number of households in Edinburgh participating in reuse. This would be achieved through a promotional campaign and an operational partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council at the civic amenity sites (on-site signage and a �meet and greet
- system to encourage people to donate;
- to develop and sharpen operational recording procedures leading to a best practice model which could be replicated at the existing and three proposed civic amenity sites in Edinburgh and indeed throughout Scotland;
- through development and expansion of this project, to increase the number of quality employment, training and volunteering opportunities available to local people and also build the capacity and skills base of all employees working on site, while also developing internal procedures to train staff to comply with national �reuse� codes of practice; and
- to work in partnership with a wide range of other not-for-profit organisations working with socially excluded people.
The key objectives
The key objectives were to divert 214 tonnes (later reduced to 89) of landfill, to work with 11 other community groups as partners, provide 14 New Deal places and involve 6,158 households.
Project cost
The total projected cost of the project was £135,129 over a 16 month period. This sum was for revenue costs only. An additional £48,878 was identified as an in-kind contribution.
The funding package outlined in the application was:
City of Edinburgh Council
£42,497
TWS Grant Scheme
£92,632
Total
£135,129
The projected outputs
- 214 tonnes of waste diverted (this target was reduced to 89).
- Create three full-time and one part-time jobs and 14 New Deal placements.
- Support 2,250 service users (EFI�s client group).
- 6,158 households participating.
- 5,158 public donors.
Progress
EFI has operated a furniture reuse project in Edinburgh for a number of years. This project sought to increase the number of items available for reuse by collecting from two civic amenity sites.
Three issues have impacted on the delivery of the project.
- The closure of the Craigmillar site means that the project has only operated at one site, instead of the two sites intended. This has reduced the tonnage diverted and number of donors.
- There were a number of operational and cultural difficulties with City of Edinburgh Council staff. As a result of these difficulties, the proposed training places and volunteer opportunities were not delivered as anticipated.
- City of Edinburgh Council site staff did not get actively involved in diverting items for reuse as outlined in the business plan.
EFI has diverted an additional 92 tonnes of waste from landfill as a result of the civic amenity site collection. This material has been donated to EFI service users or passed on to other organisations working with disadvantaged people. A network of 14 community and voluntary sector groups receive items, including bicycles and household goods for starter packs.
Four Square was also successful in receiving an additional grant from the TWS Grant Scheme which has been allocated towards the purchase of a new vehicle.
Outputs
- 92 tonnes of additional waste have been diverted.
- Three full-time jobs and one part-time job have been created.
- No New Deal placements or volunteer placements were offered due to operational difficulties with the City of Edinburgh Council.
- 4,640 individuals donated materials to the project via civic amenity sites.
- 2,466 service users (of EFI as a whole) have benefited from materials.
- 180 referral agencies have referred clients to EFI.
- An additional 15,824 people were informed about reuse on site and reuse project alternatives to landfill.
- 276 additional white goods were distributed.
- 671 additional small electrical items were distributed.
Successes
- Building relationships with City of Edinburgh Council
Four Square has invested in relationship building with staff and management of City of Edinburgh Council. Four Square feels that this investment will assist it to work more effectively with the City of Edinburgh Council in future.
- Increasing the availability of goods to disadvantaged groups
EFI supplies a network of 14 community sector organisations with items donated at the site. This ensures that as many donated items as possible can be used to support clients in need. Clients from over 180 referral organisations receive donated goods from EFI.
Challenges
Setting realistic targets
As there was no data on the quantity or type of material which might be collected at civic amenity sites, the original targets for the project were based on best estimates. Failure to meet original targets was due in part to unrealistic estimates, but was also a direct result of the three issues that affected project delivery (see Progress section for details).
Learning points
The project has gained experience of working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council at the operational level. Key lessons from this experience are:
- the development and implementation of a working agreement which specifies roles and responsibilities of each partner in a partnership project is critical to successful delivery; and
- there needs to be a single point of contact within the partner agency who is responsible for compliance with the working agreement.
Review
Future
The business plan for this service was based on the presumption of securing a SLA from the City of Edinburgh Council. An agreement has not been secured. EFI has applied to the INCREASE Programme for funding for one year. However, the long term goal for the initiative is to develop a SLA or contract with the City of Edinburgh Council.
The City of Edinburgh Council has recently restructured to create a new department which brings together housing and environmental services. Four Square sees this development as a significant opportunity for EFI. EFI services cut across both of these service areas and it could be possible for it to negotiate an SLA for both the diversion of materials and the provision of goods to people in need.
EFI has developed a new business plan for this service and for EFI as a whole. The business plan focuses on developing new income generating activity. Potential future developments include:
- developing a training arm and selling training services; and
- delivering outsourced council services such as bulky uplifts.
Summary of impact
- Weight of waste diverted
- 92 additional tonnes of waste diverted.
Household involvement
- Information on the project was provided to 15,824 individuals.
- 3,116 households donated materials at the civic amenity sites.
ocial, economic or environmental benefits
- The project created three full-time jobs and one part-time job.
- Although the project application proposed 14 New Deal posts, operational difficulties at the civic amenity sites prevented these positions being created.
- EFI diverted 4,640 items from civic amenity sites during this project, almost all of which are directly used to support people in need. This includes an additional 276 white goods and 671 small electrical items which are the scarcest items. Goods which are not required by Four Square are passed on to other reuse projects, cascading the benefit.
- 14 partner projects also benefit, both from the practical support Four Square offer (advice on SEPA licenses and other operational support) and receipt of specialist items for their service users, all of whom are people facing disadvantage.
Impact on the organisation
- The organisation has gained experience of working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council at the operational level, and is working toward the development of a SLA.
Impact on the community sector infrastructure
- EFI is an existing furniture reuse organisation. This project extended its capacity to collect materials for reuse.
- TWS Grant Scheme funding has contributed to building the sustainability of a community sector organisation.
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