We're proud to partner with Furnishing Futures, a charity whose work we care about deeply. Our support each year goes towards renovating and furnishing homes for a families starting over after fleeing domestic abuse, giving them a space that's genuinely theirs to feel safe and settled in again.
Furnishing Futures was founded by former social worker and interior designer Emily Wheeler, and combines social work values with interior design skills to create trauma-informed, fully furnished homes for women and children escaping domestic abuse. Less than 2% of social housing in the UK comes furnished, so families are often handed the keys to an empty flat: no flooring, no white goods, no curtains, nothing to sit or sleep on beyond whatever they managed to bring with them. Furnishing Futures closes that gap, working directly with each family to design and furnish a home that feels safe and their own, using furniture donated by the interior design industry and the charity's supporters.
We wanted to use our platform to share what that support means, properly, in the words of the women it was for. Below, three of the families Furnishing Futures has supported share what that meant to them. Some names have been changed to protect anonymity.
Nancy's story
Nancy's home was handed over to her dusty, with no flooring and no furniture: just a mattress on a cold concrete subfloor, the starting point from which she and her children were meant to rebuild their life after fleeing domestic violence. It left her, understandably, very worried about how she was going to make the space feel comfortable and safe for her children with no resources to do it.
"When I was offered a permanent home, I felt very happy and emotional. After a difficult time, it meant so much to finally have a safe home for me and my children.
"I felt worried when I saw the home had no flooring, furniture, or white goods. I was happy to have a home, but I didn't know how I would make it comfortable for my children. Without support, I think it would have been very stressful and difficult for me emotionally and financially. Without Furnishing Futures, I think I would have had to buy things very slowly, maybe second-hand, or borrow money to afford basic things for the home. I think it would have taken many months to make the home ready without help, and financially I probably would have needed to save for a long time, or use loans or credit, which would have caused more stress. I think this would have affected my mental and physical health badly, and it would also have affected my children's comfort, sleep, happiness and confidence.
"The support with flooring and furniture helped my mental health a lot. When I saw the finished home, I felt relief and happiness. It made me feel supported and cared for. Instead of worrying all the time about furniture and basic things, I could focus on my children and helping them settle in. They are happier, more comfortable, and sleeping better. They feel proud and happy in their home.
"Our finished home changed our lives so much. It feels peaceful, warm and safe. For the first time in a long time, it really feels like home. My children are happier and more confident now. They enjoy their rooms and talk a lot about plans of inviting friends over. I believe this support will help my children in the future, because a safe and comfortable home helps children grow and do better emotionally and in school. Having furniture, flooring and decoration makes the home feel warm, comfortable and secure.
"Working with Furnishing Futures was a very positive experience. Everyone was kind, supportive, respectful and understanding. I am truly grateful for everything you have done for me and my children. Your support has made a huge difference in our lives and helped turn an empty house into a real family home full of comfort and happiness."
Reina's story
Reina's home was also handed over in a poor state. The walls were dirty, plugs hung loose from the wall, there was no floor and dust everywhere. There was no furniture, no white goods, and no window dressings, meaning no privacy: a home that left her feeling lost and helpless before Furnishing Futures got involved.
"When I was offered the home, I felt a huge sense of relief after a very difficult period in my life. The thing I was looking forward to the most was finally feeling safe and stable and having a place I could truly call home. The area is beautiful and close to important places for me, which made me feel even more comfortable and reassured.
"When I first saw the flat, I was shocked because it was completely empty, with no paint, flooring, furniture or appliances, and I kept wondering how I would ever manage to make it liveable on my own. Without the support from Furnishing Futures, I think I would have felt completely lost, and I probably would have lived for a very long time without proper furniture or basic necessities. I did not know how I would have been able to afford all of these things. I may have had to take loans or struggle for years to slowly furnish the flat myself, and that would have had a huge impact on both my mental and physical health, as I was already dealing with a lot of emotional stress and instability.
"When I saw the flooring, furniture and the flat fully prepared, I finally felt comfort, safety and peace, as though I was beginning a new chapter in my life. The difference was incredible, because I went from an empty and overwhelming flat to a warm, beautiful home where I feel comfortable and respected. My new home has changed my life because it has given me stability, hope and confidence. I now feel that I have a safe place where I can relax, heal and start again.
"My experience with Furnishing Futures has been amazing. Everyone on the team has been kind, respectful, supportive and caring. From the beginning, I felt that I was treated with genuine compassion and understanding, not just as someone needing help. I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for me, because you did not only provide furniture and help furnish my home, you also helped me regain a sense of safety, comfort, dignity, and the ability to start over after an incredibly difficult period in my life. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to supporting me. What you have done has truly changed my life, and I will never forget it."
Joy's story
When Joy made the decision to leave her abuser, she left almost everything behind, describing it as "the hardest decision I have ever had to make, but it was one I had to make to keep my children and myself safe." The property itself was in reasonably good condition, but it had no white goods, no window coverings and no furniture beyond a mattress on the floor. Meeting her for the first time, Joy was distressed, asking how she was going to make the space feel like home for her children, one of whom has additional care needs due to their disabilities.
Joy initially wanted to keep everything white and neutral, but as she eased into the process she had a change of heart. Starting a new chapter, she decided, meant her home should be bright and colourful, in her favourite shade of pink, with pops of colour and a defined zone for each of her children so that even sharing a room, they could each feel a sense of ownership over their own space.
"Leaving domestic abuse was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, but it was one I had to make to keep my children and myself safe. We left behind not only our home but almost everything we owned. When we were finally given a property, I remember opening the door and seeing empty rooms. Although we were safe, I couldn't stop thinking, how am I going to make this feel like home for my children? That is when Furnishing Futures stepped in, and I honestly cannot put into words how much their support has meant to us.
"They provided us with beds, a sofa, a dining table, rugs, a fridge and a cooker. To some people these are just household items, but to us they represent hope, comfort and a chance to start again. For the first time since fleeing, my children had warm, comfortable beds to sleep in where they could finally feel safe. We had a sofa where we could sit together at the end of the day, watch a film, cuddle up and simply enjoy being a family without living in fear. Our dining table became a place where we could share meals, talk about our day and begin making happy memories together. Having a fridge and cooker meant I could cook proper meals again and create a routine for my children, something so important after the trauma we experienced. The rugs made our house feel warm and welcoming instead of empty.
"Furnishing Futures didn't just furnish our house, they helped restore our dignity. They gave us the opportunity to rebuild our lives with comfort, stability and hope. Their kindness removed an enormous burden from my shoulders at a time when I felt completely overwhelmed, allowing me to focus on helping my children heal instead of worrying about how I would afford the essentials.
"As a mum, there is nothing more important than seeing your children feel safe again. Watching them settle into their new home, sleep peacefully and begin to smile again has meant everything to me. None of that would have been possible without the generosity and compassion of Furnishing Futures. I will always be grateful for what they have done for my family. They didn't just give us furniture, they gave us a fresh start, a sense of security and the belief that, even after the darkest chapter of our lives, there are people who genuinely care and want to help families like mine rebuild."
Why this matters to us
Flooring and furniture sound like small things. But in Nancy, Reina and Joy's own words, they're what turned an empty house into somewhere their families could feel stable, safe and at home again. It's exactly the kind of tangible, lasting impact we want our pledge to support, and we're proud to have played a small part in it this year.
If you'd like to find out more about Furnishing Futures or support their work, you can do so at furnishingfutures.org.
Photo credit: Kirsty Noble (Nancy, Reina), Nikki Hinton (Joy).
