Vine Project shop set for Sutton High Street (From Kingston Guardian)

Vine Project to set up shop in Sutton High Street

8:30am Sunday 29th July 2012 in News By Matt Watts

A charity providing refurbished and recycled furniture to low income households has received a £20,000 to set up a shop in Sutton High Street.

Started in Sutton 13 years ago, the Vine Project is one of the key volunteer programmes for Sutton residents, providing opportunities for work-based and accredited training for the long-term unemployed.

In recent years, thegroup has been based in Mitcham, but the £20,000 London Re-use Limited (LRL) funding will allow it to expand its retail facilities into Sutton High Street.

The new retail outlet will be located at 246 High Street and will sell a large variety of reused goods including; furniture, electrical goods, textiles and bric-a-brac that have been donated by local residents, refurbished where necessary and checked for safety.

These items are then made available at affordable prices to residents on low incomes or benefits.

Monica Tyler, Vine Project chief executive, said: "The LRL investment will help us to set up a furniture reuse shop in Sutton High Street, making our reused furniture more accessible to the general public, giving us more exposure in the community and generating more trade income."

The Vine Project also runs other initiatives including Vineworks, a handyperson service, in partnership with Sutton Council, which can carry out minor repairs and odd jobs in and around your home and garden.

To find out more about The Vine Project visit vineproject.org.