Guild Care has run the Furniture Recycling Project from small beginnings in 1978. Donated furniture and electrical goods are restored by trained volunteers and passed on to local people in need, or sold to raise funds for Guild Care’s charitable services. The Project already makes a significant contribution to waste reduction and social renewal in Worthing each year.

The GreenHouse:

Reduces the amount of waste going to landfill

Provides training and work experience for disadvantaged people

Promotes environmental awareness to local people

Creates new employment opportunities

Provides a source of cheap, good quality furniture to people in need and to the wider community

Furniture collection

Our electric van collects unwanted furniture of reasonable quality from households in Worthing and its surrounding area. If you have something to donate click here.

The gentle green van can reach a top speed of 25mph and costs around a £1 a day to run. Unlike conventional petrol and diesel cars, electric vehicles have no engine, they use a 423 ahc battery that is charged by plugging it into a 36/60W charger. This saves on the amount of fossil fuels used to supply conventional power to the vehicle. Electric vehicles produce zero exhaust emissions. Renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, can be used to recharge batteries giving a zero effect on global pollution.

Furniture for people in need

The GreenHouse works with Social & Caring Services by fulfilling all the basic furniture requirements of clients referred to us. Referrals come from organisations working with disadvantaged people in the Worthing area, primarily Social Service, Southlands Hospital, Worthing Churches Homeless Project, JobCentre Plus and Worthing Borough Council. Clients are able to discuss their furniture requirements with the Project Manager.

Download a copy of our forms: 'Information for Applicants' and 'Furniture Recycling Project Application for Assistance Form' for further details and delivery costs.

All items provided will be of good quality, and will have undergone the same quality control procedures as retail items. This system has been successfully operated for six years. The project currently helps a wide variety of people, including single mothers on income support, teenagers receiving job seekers allowance, older people claiming disability allowance, refugees and asylum seekers, people with mental health problems or going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes who are moving into accommodation for the first time. We have also helped families who have lost everything in a fire, flood or other tragedy.

Retail area

Antiques, retro or modern bargains, our GreenHouse shop has it all. From televisions to teapots, from fridges to frilly curtains and lamps. No two items are the same and we have new stock every day. All goods are checked to make sure they meet safety regulations and our high quality standards. Some items are renovated or decorated in one of our workshops, producing some truly unique one-off pieces. The GreenHouse offers a family-friendly and relaxed shopping experience. For a small sum we can also deliver the goods to your door. Shopping at the GreenHouse is:

Good for you
Whether you are looking for good old-fashioned quality, unusual design or a great bargain, the GreenHouse is always worth a visit.

Good for the local community
All the profit goes to Guild Care’s work with older people, carers and children with special needs in the Worthing area.

Good for the environment
Buying second hand saves materials, energy and transport compared to buying new. It also prevents perfectly usable things from going to landfill. This is important as West Sussex is rapidly running out of space for landfill.

Don’t forget that our stock keeps changing and might be completely different from one week to the next, so it’s worth popping in every now and then. If you are looking for something in particular we will take your details and keep an eye out for you.

Education area

Our interactive exhibition, library and helpful staff are all there to help you find the answers to your questions. Or, if you have no questions about rubbish before you come, we hope to provoke some thought and questioning. We can give talks and provide stimulating activities for school classes and community groups.

back to top