On Tuesday, November 26th, Habitat for Humanity celebrated the official opening of its first ReStore in Great Britain, with a special appearance by the Duke of Gloucester, Habitat’s Patron. Located in Romford, a vibrant area in East London, this new ReStore is a social enterprise that plays a crucial role in funding Habitat for Humanity’s work to create affordable housing and promote sustainability.
Habitat’s ReStore is a home improvement retail outlet that supports vulnerable individuals in need of safe, decent housing. It builds on the traditional ‘charity shop’ concept, but with a unique focus on recycling not only furniture and appliances, but also unwanted DIY and home improvement materials—such as doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, and even hardware like nuts and bolts. ReStore accepts donations and sells these high-quality items to the public, with all proceeds supporting Habitat’s work to tackle housing poverty.
In addition to the store, Habitat offers corporate volunteering opportunities, where teams can help upcycle donated items before they are put up for sale. These activities, typically funded by corporate partners as team-building exercises, allow volunteers to put their skills to use—whether it’s giving old furniture a fresh coat of paint or revamping a wardrobe—while directly contributing to the mission. From a sustainability standpoint, the upcycling and resale of items helps reduce waste, while simultaneously supporting the revitalization of empty properties and providing a fresh start for individuals in need of housing. Each purchase from ReStore not only supports Habitat’s community-building efforts, but also helps reduce environmental impact.
A few members of the Leo Lion team were present at the opening, eager to be part of this exciting new chapter. We’re looking forward to supporting Habitat for Humanity as they prepare to open their second ReStore in the near future. The ReStore model, which has been successfully implemented in over 1,000 locations around the world—including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Ireland—has proven to be a sustainable and impactful initiative. We’re excited to see it thrive in GB!
There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved in this new initiative, please visit their page to find out more about donating items or volunteering in store.
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