Ds has been offered a flat but he doesn't have furniture.

[Yellowrose57]

My son has been offered social housing.i can help him with sone things. But not larger items.

I'm hoping i can find a charity of some sort that sells 2nd hand furniture. As we could probably get most things he needs under one roof and its likely they will deliver.

Just to ad British heart foundation and simlar are to expensive. We can't use free cycle . Facebook anything that requires collection . We do not drive or have access to a car. So it makes sense to use a charity

So bit of a long shot but does anyone know of charity's that sell 2nd hand furniture in the southeast london area..

Thanks 😊

With respect, you make do with what you’ve got. When I was a student I worked in a supermarket- My best friend when I was there, was a supervisor and lived alone in her flat and was skint AF after being a care leaver. I distinctly remember helping her move a sofa about half a mile through the town we lived in, using 2 supermarket cages, precariously balancing it as we went.

no one has enough to furnish a home in one go. I was 20 when I moved into my flat, working an early morning job in a supermarket 4-8 am, then going to university to be a teacher 8-6 and working in a bar 7-11. I was knackered and lived in a dive. It’s part of the process.

i don’t think anyone is delusional- it’s not normal to kit out a flat in one go, for free. Especially if you can’t drive and collect things and don’t have the means for a man and van or even for charity shop items.
if I am giving away furniture, and it’ll fit in my car I probably can deliver it- and do. But heavy items I can’t carry alone require help, and extra manpower.

Is there any scope for a job at all for this chap, I am quite profoundly physically and mentally/cognitively disabled following medical negligence when I was 24, and whilst I have a fluctuating condition I am generally able to hold down some kind of small job, eg admin/retail/hospitality etc which just about pays my bills whilst being on disability benefits and UC and I also have a professional role that I just about keep registered for when I can do supply work.

The Lions club may be able to find a fridge for him so try the local branch of that.

Citizens advice should be able to suggest other local charities.

Equally I had a bean bag in lieu of a sofa in my 1st place.

He’s not living independently yet though is he? We don’t know there is vulnerability, in the same way we don’t know he’s doing F all.

Almost everyone on this thread is saying pick it up as you go, you don’t need a lot to get started. That is all. It’s normal to not have a lot. That’s all.

Do you know what living independently means?

In our area if you explain the situation often a very kind soul will offer to collect/deliver something for literally only petrol money. Within reason obviously. Have you tried asking?

Have I misunderstood something- he’s not moved into the flat yet. He’s still living with his mum? His mum appears to be managing his move and co-ordination of furniture? How is he living independently?

People give you stuff, charity shopsand saving up. I think the key thing is expect to do it slowly over time. When I moved into my first flat I had a futon which was my sofa in the day and bed at night, a telly and the white goods that came with the place. I saved up for a mirror and coffee table and was gifted a bookcase over the next few months etc. I think it will as a year or so before I got a proper bed. I don't know anyone that etart d out with a fully furnished flat.

If he's being given £200, can't he get free stuff from Freecycle etc, and use the money to pay for someone to collect and deliver?

Yes exactly this.

And comments such as cut the apron strings and simlar. Hes my son I'm allowed to help him. Even if that is having a hunt for second hand furniture. Looking for charitys etc.

Yes 100% true he needs to learn to budget. And I won't be helping him with his bills/food.

I would ask at the council they often have this situation..my previous counil had liks with local refurb place for white goods /furniture who delivered.It cost but not high and you got discount if on certain benefits.
They also had a small grant called something like discretionary housing grant he could apply for that you could use in certain shops for basics.. maybe called something different in different councils...

Hi, you can apply for a grant through the council, they will help with white goods.

If you have a local Facebook group you could
post in there. People are usually really happy to help and if they have something they need to get rid of they are usually more thank happy to have someone take it away for free.

Thank you. Emmaus has been mentioned a few times. I did look on their website but I found it confusing so I'm going to call them. We can get to Plumstead. I will call first though incase they don't do out of that area.

Do you feel able to say which London Borough you are in? Most council’s have a recycling shop or details of a charity that do they are set up to support people like your son.

This link might help: https://www.reviveandrecycle.org.uk/who-we-help/

Thankyou 💐
Its true I have not given more information. Because as you say its about furniture.

I'm his mum I'm allowed to help. I don't have to say bye get on with it your on your own now. Theres going to be plenty of things for him to learn.

Also if I add to much or answer certain questions on this thread it becomes derailed..

As a single person ( assuming he is) living in SE London your DS has already won the lottery by being offered social housing. He will be living there for a long time so can build up his home comforts bit by bit.

He has a bed

He can sleep on it and sit on it.

The other things he will need to start are something to cook food with, like an air fryer or microwave , and a fridge.

The rest will come.

People will offer bits, tell him to accept everything graciously, he won’t be starting off with a 50 inch smart tv, but maybe someday.

He needs to learn to keep his home clean and tidy, to be a good neighbour and understand how to budget. Very good luck to him, it will all work out.

@Yellowrose57

OP, as you will have seen, Emmaus Greenwich say:

"If you are experiencing furniture poverty, your agency worker (e.g. social worker, resettlement officer, medical practitioner) can apply for Solidarity Furniture Aid from Emmaus on your behalf to help you furnish your home. If your application is successful, you will receive a Solidarity Voucher that you can exchange for a pack of pre-selected items, subject to stock availability."

Does your son have a Social Worker who can apply on his behalf?

Applications open in August, which is really not far away.

£200 would get you a lot more than a fridge freezer if you get secondhand. You sound to have the start of a good plan. Rent a van and go to Emmaus or arrange to do a collection of a few marketplace or freecycle things.

The other app is Olio, you can look at things near you and do a wanted ad too. And if he’s able bodied, then a bit of faff carrying stuff to his place from a few roads away will be an experience he will remember (I remember it well!).

I didn’t even have carpets when I moved in to my first council flat! I put my telly on some baskets covered with a throw, and my auntie gave me a sofa that I sold to put money towards a nicer sofa set that mum found for me. I’ve got all sorts of free Facebook sites, like the CRAP pages. I earn more money now so I can fill the flat (2nd one) with nicer stuff. It takes time and just finding things. Lots of charity shops sell furniture and little bits.

The other thing to say @Yellowrose57 is that if he’s vulnerable and struggling for money, he’s probably entitled to help from a food bank. Some of them have access to other charities that can help and donated items. His GP, social worker or other professional can refer. There’s no need to wait until crisis point.

Thank you. Tried to message them but theres an error. But I can call them. 💐

Ah thank you. He has a key worker. That may be able to refer.

Can you contact a church local to where he is moving to and ask if any of their parishoners would help him by volunteering their car or van to collect items from freecycle or facebook?

It is problematic that free furniture can't be accessed by those who need it most, because they can't afford to hire a van or run a car.

He could use Freecycle, though, by putting his needed items in the Wanted section and explaining he has no access to transport so would be very grateful if people offering larger items were willing to deliver them. Or he could say that he'd welcome offers walking distance from his new home.

Lots of things are manageable by hand if it's walking distance. Not easy, but possible.

Just ask Chat GPT

Please find me charities in south east London that provide second hand furniture and white goods and deliver them. Or ask on your local facebook page if anyone has anything they want to get rid of and are willing/able to deliver to the area your son is going to live.

For now, he can get a basic camping chair delivered from Amazon.

That sounds like the way to go.

Could you ask his key worker to enquire this week?

That would allow time to complete any forms, ready for an application in August.

The number for Emmaus in Greenwich is 020 8316 5398.