In 1993, staff (including Lynda Davies, now CEO of toogoodtowaste) at a local Barnados project conceived the idea of setting up a furniture recycling project as a good way to assist with the alleviation of poverty.

With a steering committee of ‘enthusiastic community representatives’ an SDS revenue grant of 35k and Lynda Davies, Valleys Furniture Recycling was born in 1995. The past ten years have been a mixture of business dilemmas and enthusiasm, friendship, support and advice.

The early years of growth were fun and exciting as the organisation toddled forward, working mostly with volunteers, sorting out processes, gaining knowledge and business support to help meet the challenges of growing a new service. By 1998 having secured both European and Lottery Funding, additional governance was provided by a Board of Directors.

Having operated as Valleys Furniture Recycling for 5 years, and becoming confident of its abilities and role within the community, a new teenager identity was required. In 2002, with an individual logo and more mature business branding the charity adopted the trading name of toogoodtowaste.

This was also the year that, in order to assist more people in need by providing improved access to our services, toogoodtowaste left home to deliver community furniture ‘Roadshows’, supporting community initiatives throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf.

With annual increases in the number of beneficiaries; higher levels of paid employment; more complicated funding packages and a variety of service provisions, the organisation has become both mature and sophisticated.

From 2006 onwards we will seek security of income; learning and growth to ensure we can continue to provide services that assist with the alleviation of poverty; provide opportunities to work and train, and reduce waste to landfill.

2006 has also seen the launch of ‘open to all’ which will allow toogoodtowaste to take the next vital step towards growth, support sustainability and assist in reaching and exceeding its charitable objectives.