Celebrating ICOF 50th birthday – looking back at our early loans – Hastings Furniture

The sign on the van proudly proclaims Hastings Furniture Service to be ‘your community business’.

We think that this photo dates from 1998 when we lent to them to refinance their property. Was this one of the earliest uses of the term?

HFS is still trading, as a charity now. Their website says that they ‘provide affordable reused furniture, helps low-income households to furnish their homes, collects surplus furniture and appliances for reuse, and provides practical opportunities for people to gain skills, experience and confidence.

Every year the HFS team:

• Collects and re-uses over 300 tonnes of furniture and electricals that would otherwise go to waste.
• Helps over 2,000 low-income households furnish their homes.
• Supports over 100 people who are out of work to gain skills and confidence.