THE COUPLE HELPING NEEDY MAKE A HOME
A COUPLE have helped hundreds of people who have been left with nothing to get back on their feet.
Julian and Marianne Cash, who are the founders of the charity Community Furniture Aid (CFA), said they had dealt with some shocking cases in the valleys around Bridgend, helping homeless people and those on low incomes find furnished homes.
In the five years since starting the charity the couple, along with six volunteers, have helped to fully furnish around 350 houses.
They have also part-furnished another 150, helping an incredible 1,400 people in the process.
The couple carry out the work from a local church.
Mrs Cash, aged 50, said: “Everything is done volun- tarily, we accept donations and work with other local charities to give people what they need to start a new life.
“People ask what to donate and I tell them to imagine they get home from work and their house is totally empty, ‘what would they need to start their lives up again’?
“We deal with people who have had their homes repossessed, homeless people and much more. It’s great to be able to give something back to the community.”
She said they had dealt with some extreme cases, including one where a man had been sleeping in a forest for 20 years.
The charity helped him get back on his feet and he eventually got a job.
She added: “We wanted to do something useful for the community. We saw someone throwing away a sofa which was perfectly fine, and that’s when we thought, ‘there is more that we can do’.
“We mainly arrive at completely empty properties, and by the time we leave, the house is usually fully furnished.
“Everything is donated, and my house is completely full of boxes ready to go out. There’s literally nowhere to walk, and we also have a storage unit full, as well as working from the local church.”
Last week, the couple were helping a family who were relocating to Wales after falling into debt and having their home repossessed.
The two-bedroom house they were moving into was empty, and only had one wardrobe inside, but by the time the charity left, the house was furnished and ready to occupy.
Mr Cash, 48, who cares for his wife, said he volunteered around 60 hours a week. He said: “We help people from all backgrounds, but mainly those on extremely low income.
“Most of the time we’ll turn up and the house will have absolutely nothing, these people have to make do with what they have.
“As a charity, we want to help people with no strings attached. Everything is donated, this is what we rely on. “We also give talks at Bridgend Jobcentre, so people know who we are and know where they can turn to for help.”
The charity charges £90 for a single person and £150 for a family for their help, to cover the cost of van hire, fuel and insurance, but this is sometimes covered by agencies and other charities.
Kevin, 46, from Pontycymer, had his home repossessed and was helped by the charity. Now he is a volunteer and offers advice as someone who was in a similar position.
He said: “My home was repossessed and I had absolutely nothing. The charity helped me and now I’m glad I can give something back.
“I am able to understand people because I have been in that position, it just feels great to be able to help.
“Most people we help are in shock, some burst into tears. I said I’d help as I can drive the vans so that’s my job, whatever I can do to help I will.”