Award for First Move Furnishaid

A SCHEME to repair and redistribute furniture to low income families was amongst the winners at Recycle for Norfolk Awards.Great Yarmouth's First Move Furnishaid topped the social enterprise category of the awards recognising environmentally friendly activities across the county.

A SCHEME to repair and redistribute furniture to low income families was amongst the winners at Recycle for Norfolk Awards.

Great Yarmouth's First Move Furnishaid topped the social enterprise category of the awards recognising environmentally friendly activities across the county.

Furnishaid recently opened a computer training room with Job Centre Plus fitted out with discarded furniture from local companies.

It works to improve the skills of young people in some of the most deprived areas of Yarmouth and was first in the country to take on recruits from the government's Future Jobs Fund.

Judges praised Furnishaid for “repairing and redistributing furniture to low income families and those in need before it was fashionable and imbuing social and environmental ethics in everything they do.”

Michael Jeal, from Furnishaid, was highly commended in the waste heroes' category for “embedding social ethics throughout the whole operation.”

The 1st Belton Scout Group was commended in the safe hands (under 18's) category for their efforts collecting recyclables.

Since 2005 the Scouts have collected 42.85 tonnes of paper raising cash to help fund their activities.

The awards were presented at a ceremony last week by BBC TV Look East presenter Carol Bundock.