Local housebuilder David Wilson Homes has recently extended financial support to Furnihelp Mid-Sussex, a charity that supports individuals in need of furniture in the Mid Sussex District. The housebuilder, who is behind the Wychwood Park development on Rocky Lane in Haywards Heath, just a short distance from the charity’s unit in Horsted Keynes Business Park, made the £1000 donation to help cover the charity’s ongoing costs this winter.

Every year in the UK people discard more than 22 million pieces of furniture, with most of this waste either buried in landfill or burnt in an incinerator. Furnihelp is a local charity in the Mid Sussex area that collects unwanted furniture and household possessions from people that no longer want them, and donates them free of charge to individuals in need. By re-using second-hand furniture, Furnihelp reduces the amount of furniture and household goods being sent to landfill.

The charity supports people who were formerly homeless and individuals in crisis who are unable to purchase their own furniture, with individuals nominated by local councils, charities and churches. The donation from David Wilson Southern Counties will be used to help cover the costs of the charity’s lock-up storage in Horsted Keynes, as well as the running costs of its van.

Kimberley Benson, Sales and Marketing Director for David Wilson Southern Counties, comments: “As a sustainable local housebuilder, we are committed to reducing waste wherever possible and across all of our developments we divert 95% of our construction waste from landfill. Charities such as Furnihelp are valuable in helping local communities reduce their waste, as well as helping people to make their houses feel like home. We understand the importance of having a furnished home, and we hope our donation goes a little way in enabling the charity’s services to run over the coming weeks.”

Neil Gershon, Chair of Furnihelp, comments: “The charity relies on the support we receive from our community, and there are a very small number of local people, including myself, who run the charity purely on a voluntary basis. Furnishing a property is expensive, and we as a charity try to help people who in many instances have nothing, to get on their feet by removing some of the affordability barriers. It’s win-win as not only are we supporting our community, but we are also reducing waste.

“We exist because of the dedication of very few unpaid volunteers and we are always willing to speak to anyone who wants to get involved regardless of how much or how little time they can spare.”

David Wilson Southern Counties is building new homes at Wychwood Park in Haywards Heath. The development will offer three and four-bedroom homes, with the prices beginning from £404,995 for a three-bedroom home.