News
Walsall Charity Gains Cash for Warehouse
A Walsall-based charity which renovates unwanted furniture and passes it on to needy families has won a £39,000 grant. Walsall Carpenters Shop has been given the cash as part of the landfill tax credit scheme.
Voluntary co-ordinator for the group, Hilton Carter, said the grant was fantastic news and would go towards providing Walsall Carpenters Shop with a new warehouse in Darlaston. Mr Carter said: "We started 16 years ago in the front room of a terrace house in Palfrey."
"This grant will allow us to open the biggest and best warehouse we have ever had."
"We supply around 100 families with free furniture every year and our new warehouse will allow us to reach out to many more."
Mr Carter said that the charity has between 20 to 25 members of staff with many of those trained through a partnership with Walsall College of Arts and Technology.
He added that eight people who trained with Walsall Carpenters Shop last year are now in full-time employment.
Walsall Council has established a framework for local groups seeking funding under the tax credit scheme with bids submitted to Waste Management Research Limited.
The council's environmental planning manager Steve Lewis said: "Walsall Carpenters Shop is a very worthy charity and the provision of a dry warehouse will be invaluable."
The council is currently looking for the next batch of applicants for grants.
Other big winners of the scheme include Rushall Cricket Club which has been handed £10,000 for clubhouse improvements and Pelsall Scouts who have picked up the same amount for centre improvements.