A service which helped thousands of people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area to set up their homes with recycled furniture has closed.
Furniture Matters has shut down, it has been announced on its website and social media pages.
The charity had a warehouse at Newgate on the White Lund estate in Morecambe.
"A huge thank you to everyone who supported us over the years - our customers, partners and colleagues," said a post on the Furniture Matters Facebook page on Wednesday.
"Together, we helped thousands of people set up their homes and kept good furniture in use through reuse and recycling.
"Although the service has come to an end, the positive impact on people, communities, and the environment will stay with us.
"If you have an appliance still under warranty, please contact the manufacturer directly.
"Thank you for being part of the Furniture Matters story."
A statement on the Furniture Matters website says:
"After many years of helping people across our communities, Furniture Matters has now closed. We wanted to leave this page here to say thank you and to recognise what the service achieved.
The Furniture Matters shop in Morecambe town centre closed in 2024.
"We’re proud of what Furniture Matters did. Over the years, we supported thousands of customers, helping people set up their homes with dignity, care and respect.
"Alongside this, we played an important role in reuse and recycling, keeping good furniture in use and reducing waste. The people who delivered this work made a real difference, and we’re grateful to them.
"While it’s sad to say goodbye, we remain positive about the impact Furniture Matters had on people, communities and the environment.
"We want to thank every customer, partner and colleague who has been part of the Furniture Matters story. What was achieved over many years still matters, and that legacy will stay with us.
"Over the years, we:
- Helped thousands of people create safe, comfortable homes
- Reused and recycled furniture to reduce waste
- Supported greener, more sustainable communities
- Created jobs, skills and opportunities for colleagues
"Furniture Matters is no longer operating and this website will not be updated."
Sam Howarth, Director of Operations at Syncora, part of owners The Calico Group, said this week: “This is a sad moment for everyone connected to Furniture Matters.
"Over many years, the service has supported thousands of customers, helping people furnish their homes with dignity while championing reuse, sustainability and environmental responsibility. That impact, and the commitment of the colleagues who made it happen, is something we are genuinely proud of.
“The decision to close Furniture Matters has not been taken lightly. It follows the ending of key contracts and wider market pressures that have made the service increasingly difficult to sustain. This reflects changes in the external environment rather than the quality or values of the work itself, but it does not make saying goodbye any easier.
“We want to thank every customer, partner and colleague who has been part of the Furniture Matters story. The service has made a lasting difference to people, communities and the environment, and that legacy will remain. Our focus now is on supporting colleagues through this transition and recognising the positive impact achieved over so many years.”
In June 2024, the Furniture Matters shop in Euston Road in Morecambe town centre closed down.
Sam Howarth said at the time this was down to rising costs and the changes in the way people shop for goods affecting high street stores.
The service had been helping the people of the Lancaster and Morecambe area since 1999.
Furniture Matters also did house clearances and collections of big unwanted items through the bulky waste service in partnership with local councils including Lancaster City Council and Wyre Council.
A Lancaster City Council spokesperson said this week that the bulky waste collection service will continue and can be booked HERE.
They also offered a range of volunteering and accredited training opportunities for people who are out of work, want to develop new skills, or want to gain vital work experience.
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