Give pre-loved furniture a new home
Piano-playing supremos can help a second-hand furniture store, which has given new life to an empty Longrow shop and officially opens its doors tonight (Friday).
Kintyre Recycling Ltd’s (KRL) reuse hub will join many other Campbeltown shops in opening after the Christmas lights switch-on.
The shop, which sells preowned sofas, tables, chairs, beds, dressers and more has recently taken receipt of a piano, previously owned by renowned Kintyre musician Gus McAllister, who passed away earlier this year.
The piano being played on the Christmas lights switchon night is an apt way to honour Gus, who regularly provided the soundtrack at Glenbarr Abbey’s iconic Christmas open days.
‘It’s not just any old piano,’ said Amanada Card, KRL’s business manager. ‘It has a steel frame and a lot of history – it will be well over 100 years old.’
The piano, which will eventually be for sale, sits alongside many items of furniture, arranged in a homely fashion, inside the shop, which has occupied the site since August.
Ms Card added: ‘Our aim is to divert furniture that would normally go to landfill, whether it’s straight from the amenity site or from people contacting us.
‘We have already done several house clearances – but this isn’t just about rubbish. We only sell good quality items.’
The reuse hub works in conjunction with the Springbank Homelessness Project, which offers the use of its hall to store extra furniture that cannot be accommodated in the shop, as well as the Third Sector Interface community shop and Shopper-Aide.
‘We’re also working handin-hand with the Rotary Club of Campbeltown,’ said Amanda, adding, ‘which has had to scale back its furniture auctions to one a year.’
The social work department has already referred people who were given new homes to the shop to find affordable furnishings.
After training, staff and volunteers will be able to upcycle and restore furniture and also offer workshops to share some of their skills.
People are encouraged to go along on the opening night to share their views on the type of workshops they would attend and register their interest in volunteering.
The reuse hub has been fully funded by the Social Economy Growth Fund, which is supported by the European Social Fund and Scottish Government.
KRL was awarded £108,404 for the project until March 2020, to pay for the shop, a new van and the wages of four workers – two full-time furniture supervisors and two therapeutic assistants.
As well as potential piano playing, the opening night will feature nibbles, free Christmas ducks and children may be able to make their own Christmas decorations.
There will be a regular opportunity for volunteers in the shop so anyone who is interested, or those wishing to donate or purchase furniture, is invited to attend the opening or call the shop on 01586 551511.