Quaker Social Action (QSA), formed in 1867, has its roots in Victorian philanthropy. However, HomeStore, among its other projects, illustrates just how far the charity has moved since then whilst remaining true to its values – by focusing on helping people to help themselves.

A major focus of QSA’s work is on helping homeless people, equipping them with the tools they need to get off the streets and integrate into society. When people are first housed, the relief they feel at getting a roof over their heads can wear away when faced with bare, empty rooms. Many can get in to debt buying furniture, kitchen appliances and the other essentials needed to make a house a home. And so HomeStore was born. The organisation collects unwanted furniture, and provides them at a third of the cost of a second hand furniture store on the high street. It also provides refurbished and new kitchen appliances at affordable prices. Since it began in 1988, HomeStore has saved East Londoners on benefits over £1million and diverted thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill sites around the capital.

In keeping with its overall aim, HomeStore has also provided many volunteer and training opportunities, enabling people to gain new skills and confidence in their abilities. These have included adults with learning difficulties, community service volunteers and those who have been unemployed for more than six months.

Reward for the good work that HomeStore does came in February 2005, when the organisation received a Liveable City Award from the Corporation of London - one of only three handed out to voluntary sector organisations in 2005.

Case study issued in November 2005