Welcome to the Restart Orkney Website

Restart Orkney - Furniture Reuse Project was established by Employability Orkney in April 2006.

The project provides an otherwise unavailable source of pre-used furniture and household goods for local people living on a low income or benefits, and diverts approximately 20 tonnes of bulky waste from landfill/export each year.

RO also facilitates a range of supported volunteering, training and work placement opportunities for individuals facing social and economic exclusion.

Restart Orkney has close links with other local and national agencies and organisations, and makes a valuable contribution to community planning and economic development.

Restart Orkney’s Aims and Objectives:

Social

• To help local people overcome some of the effects of poverty on their lives by providing a source of quality furniture and household goods at low cost;

• To enable homeless people or those threatened with homelessness to take up tenancies they otherwise could not, as furnishings and floor coverings are a condition of tenancy;

• To work in partnership with other agencies and organisations with similar aims and objectives;

• To promote social inclusion throughout the local community.

Economic

• To provide a range of sustainable supported employment, training and volunteering opportunities which promote social inclusion for those furthest from the labour market;

• To work collaboratively with other agencies and organisations with a similar remit;

• To work closely with individuals and employers to challenge and ultimately overcome the barriers people face to mainstream employment.

Environmental

• To collect, restore, recycle and redistribute pre-used furniture and household goods donated by members of the public;

• To assist the local authority in meeting the targets set out in the local area waste plan by preventing/reducing landfill and exported waste;

• To raise awareness of local and national environmental issues;

• To encourage and facilitate recycling activities throughout the Orkney mainland and surrounding isles.