Hello, 

Firstly, we hope you're keeping safe and well throughout this surreal ordeal. We have some important news below from our CEO, plus some great tips on sustainability during self isolation.

A message from our CEO, Michael Ryan

2020 is a landmark year for the charity, 25 years of serving the people of East Sussex is no lean feat.

Yet the celebrations have been curtailed. So now, as we tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we find ourselves championing our 25th year anniversary in the most needed way possible…standing by our staff;

• When the coronavirus two-week isolation periods threatened the wellbeing of our workforce, we guaranteed full-pay for all sick leave.

• We have granted all staff the opportunity to enrol family members into our private WPA healthcare plans.

• We are honouring our commitment to increase salaries for all staff on 1st April 2020 in our progress to achieve status as a real living wage employer.

• We shall be standing by our commitment for all staff annual leave cancelled as a result of the coronavirus to be carried forward into the next holiday year.

Our team is our backbone and our organisation is uniting behind them to ensure, amidst mass public anxiety, our dedication to protecting their livelihoods is unwavering.

We are set to announce a powerful array of public support services in our commitment to combating the pandemic of COVID-19. Please continue to follow the latest news via our website and social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

In the meantime, you can always read a little about our history - from simple beginnings with a milk float in Lewes in 1995.

Temporary closure of our stores

On Monday 23rd March, our team made the decision to close our Furniture Now! sites indefinitely. Many organisations will describe the coming months as a financially difficult period, but there can be nothing difficult about putting wellbeing first.

Whilst our increased access to volunteers, staff and new funding opportunities has bestowed our charity great momentum since the start of the new year, as leaders we must take stock, sometimes great staff and a strong support base believe they are invincible and need protecting from themselves.

In times like this it should be unilaterally accepted, no matter the sector you represent, that profit comes second and people come first. Our message to our followers endorses the governments, please stay home and stay safe.

In a world post-coronavirus it is anticipated that the need to support families blighted by in-work poverty and unemployment may be more critical than ever.

Pursuing our mission to tackle the key ♻️ environmental and 🏠 social issues faced in our society has not been cancelled, it is merely postponed.

May we offer our supporters light in these dark hours and assure you that we will see brighter days again, the Now! Charity will return.

We look forward to opening our Furniture Now! stores again when it is safe to do so.

Best wishes to you and your families,

Michael Ryan

CEO, Now! Charity Group

Inspiring stories from the community

🧑‍🏫 Despite the closure of our Furniture Now sites, we are still offering our free Maths and English tutoring online. Our Lead Tutor, Sharon Baldwin, has embraced the benefits of technology, continuing to deliver lessons by video conferencing and telephone. Sharon's dedication to a learner-first approach is inspiring. Despite the coronavirus' damaging effect on our society, we are warmed by many local people overcoming their current anxiety to achieve NCFE Maths and English qualifications in pursuit of improving their lives.  

Sustainable living during self-isolation

🎨 Will an extended period of self-isolation gift you more time on your hands? Why not take on a furniture project.

If you have a piece of furniture you’re considering throwing out, why not spend your time upcycling it and giving it a new look?

At Furniture Now our resident upcycling expert, Berny Richards, creates amazing new designs from pre-loved items all year round.

Keep an eye on our Social Media channels in the coming weeks for more ways to get creative with your household goods and take on our ‘upcycling challenge’.

😩 Wondering what to do whilst stuck at home? Here's a great blog from the Rediscovery Centre on 'How to live sustainably while social distancing'. Including creating your own body scrubs, gardening / DIY jobs and more.