Our Timeline
Back in 1997 we started our journey to where we are now. Follow our timeline below to see what we have been up to over the years to where we are now.
1997
A Committee set up from local people decided to set up a Furniture Project, so furniture could be made available for families in need, whilst providing training and volunteering opportunities..
1998
A company was formed in the name of the Furniture Project (Stranraer) Limited and registered as a charity with HMRC.
A pilot project was in operation on a part time basis, based in the Dicks Hill area of Stranraer, in the top 5% of the indices of multiple deprivation in Scotland and commenced operation.
1999
After receiving a National Lottery Charities Board award for a three year period the project employed four people and commenced full time operation throughout Wigtownshire.
2001
We become a social enterprise, aspiring to generate our own income, reducing our dependency on grants.
2002
Opened a second centre in Newton Stewart with the same aims and objectives.
2003
After being finalists in the previous year the team were awarded the best social enterprise in Dumfries & Galloway in the Business and Learning Awards.
2005
Moved the centre in Newton Stewart to larger retail premises.
2006
Started within with Social Housing Landlords supplying a range of small works services, from fencing, gardens maintenance to decorating.
Worked with SENSCOT and a range of local social enterprises to set up and Chair the Dumfries & Galloway Social Enterprise Network.
2008
The team received the Investors In People award.
2011
After lots of changes we were, for the first time awarded Revolve accreditation status by Zero Waste Scotland.
2013
Started to assist to organise the Christmas events in Stranraer.
2014
the team researched and with the support of CEIS business consultants produced a 20 year business plan and tender for a contract that had been made available by Dumfries & Galloway Council.
2015
Awarded a 20 year Reuse Contract by Dumfries & Galloway Council. This was to raise the funds, contract, maintain and operate a reuse service across Wigtownshire from the shared Zero Waste Park in Stranraer.
We were awarded Volunteering Organisation of the Year by Dumfries & Galloway Third Sector Interface.
2017
With all the funds being raised and the centre being constructed we moved from our modest home in Dicks Hill to our new ‘first of its kind in Scotland’ state of the art centre on the zero waste park in Stranraer, which we can proudly say we own.
the project was rebranded from the Furniture Project to the Community Reuse Shop.
2018
We organised the Big Christmas dinner, which followed on to eventually become the Fed Up Café, which we set up in 2019 as a stand alone Charity.
Our team became more involved in the Stranraer Scottish Week events, helping to organise them and deliver them across our community.
We received Revolve accreditation for the new centre.
2019
Started collecting from two additional recycling centres across Wigtownshire.
In partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Councils Anti Poverty team we started to provide free school uniforms to young people who required assistance.
Our team set up a Christmas Hamper service to families in need in partnership with our social services department. This has continued to expand year on year.
2020
After a year of researching scope to we opened a clothing and homeware shop in the town centre.
We closed our centre during Covid-19 lockdown and started working with the Fed Up Café and Dumfries & Galloway Council to deliver hot meals, food parcels, clothing, toys and clothing to people, which we continued to do until the Covid restrictions were lifted in 2021.
2021
Our team organised free hair cuts, along with free school uniform and pens & pencils, for young people to return back to school in August, which has become an annual event.
The Trustees & Management team have been working with the support of Dumfries & Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise to have a feasibility study and business plan produced by consultants Community Enterprise in Scotland and Potters Architects to enable the centre to be expanded to increase employment opportunity and divert more waste for reuse.
We received Revolve accreditation for our second shop named ReLoved Clothing in Stranraer town Centre.
2021
Our team were nominated for a series of national awards;
Vibe awards – we received a Best Practice Award
Social Enterprise Scotland – finalists in the Best Social Enterprise category.
Scottish Regeneration Forum (SURF) awards - awarded the best Community Led Regeneration Project.
2021
We created an online team to maximise our sales, especially in non essential items.
Worked with a team we set up Stranraer Community Events Group, which has become a stand alone organisation.
2022
After targeting 8 employees within our business plan, we have 31 as a direct result of larger volumes of waste diverted from landfill than projected along with investment from funders.
Winner of Scotland’s Town Awards programme in Climate Change / Net Zero