The welfare department at the Furniture Makers charity has had a busy year, with applications being received from all over the UK from people in the furnishing industry who have fallen on hard times. It has only been eight months, but one-off grants totalling nearly £12,000 have already been made this year.

These grants have been quite varied, ranging from help toward household bills and furniture, daily living expenses, property repairs, disabled equipment and necessary adaptations,to funeral costs and money towards respite breaks following illness.

The work of the former charity, the FTBA (the Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association), is being continued to support 99 elderly beneficiaries retired from some of the most prominent furnishing companies in the UK, with weekly grants totalling just under £82,000 every year – people like Mrs B, whose husband was a furniture manufacturers' representative and who has been involved in the furnishing industry all her life.

The Furniture Makers relies on the generosity and support of people within the industry to continue the work it does helping those in need. Fundraising events such as Big Shots go a long way to raising necessary funds, as well as the recent Skydiving Challenge and various sporting events across the country. Keep an eye on the chairty's website for upcoming events to take part in, such as the National Charity Golf Championship on Friday 13th September.

The Furniture Makers’ charity helps people from all walks of life across the whole of the UK furnishing industry, with grants to help make things a little easier during difficult times. In order to be eligible to apply for a grant, it requests as least two years’ employment in the UK furnishing industry in any capacity, whether it be sales, manufacturing, designing or making.