Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 9 March 2025
March 15th is two years exactly since we had the opening of the Second Chance Chichester’s great premise in Leigh Road. With your help and support we have managed to help 104 people and families in desperate need and crisis make an empty house a home. I calculated that on average we supply ten major items worth about £500 even at second hand prices compared to items in the local Charity Shops.
Our business plan required a strategic review after two years of operation. The conclusion is that we cannot afford the Leigh Road Premises going forward for two reasons, the cost but also during the year we lost some key volunteers who had qualifications in Health and Safety matters and PAT testing skills. In fact, our force of volunteers has dwindled from 14 to 7. Coupled with the demand for our service has doubled over the last few months for our modest operation. This has put more pressure on myself and the remaining volunteers who have been outstanding in their commitment. I would like to pay special tribute to our ace delivery team of Bruce Brechin and Alan Broadhurst. Maurice Mayor has also been exceptional in his looking after the kitchen department and stock management. An enormous effort has gone into fund raising and grant applications. The loss of the Levelling up grant from CDC was a major below but thanks to all those I mentioned in the last newsletter, we managed to raise £21,780 to keep us going. Not all our fund-raising ventures have been successful and the short foray into second handbooks managed only to raise £205 in 3 months and has now been terminated.
So, what of the future, Second Chance Chichester is needed now more than ever. The success of SCC is down to offering a free service including delivery, collection of quality second hand furniture but most importantly the ability of people to choose what they want. Currently our plans are to go online like a mini-Amazon. In fact, our web site is already designed to do this. By operating this way we need only a third of the storage we currently have. The range of items will also be reduced to the most popular requests, sofa’s, beds, table and chairs ,TV’s fridges, hoovers, microwaves, kettles and toasters, storage such as chest of drawers, rugs , lamps and mirrors. Finding the right storage will be the challenge but initial searches show there is such affordable storage available.
In the meantime, we are currently not taking donations but still offering the service to those in need as business as usual. Thank you so much for all your support.
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 8 Nov 2024
The highlight of October was a visit by Jess Brown-Fuller, the new MP for Chichester. She spent an hour with us and a lot of time talking to the volunteers and understanding what makes our modest operation of Second Chance Chichester so different from other Charities and so rewarding. The next day, I had an email from Jess’s mother offering furniture from her mother, Jess’s Nana, flat. Sadly the grandmother had died recently and although a good age, it is always a shock so a very special thank you for thinking of Second Chance.
Last time I mentioned that there were currently several applications for grants in the pipeline. Applications for national grants such as the National Lottery and the Co-op have not been successful, the Co-op reporting that there were over 7000 applications. We are in discussion with Goodwood to see if we can be one of the chosen local charities for an event collection but the earliest that will be for 2026. However, since we have been a registered charity we have been successful in obtaining grants from the Woodger Trust and the two Rotary Club of Chichester and Chichester Priory. They have awarded grants at a very key time for Second Chance. Tony and Pam Dignum’s monthly contribution is a wonderful stable influence during the uncertainty of grant funding in the current climate. It was also with great pleasure and grateful thanks that I was handed a cheque for £693 from the Mayor, money raised by the wonderful residents and staff at Lakeview Grange n the most innovative way. They have also donated some lovely furniture items for Second Chance. I really enjoy giving talks to them or appearing as Town Crier for significant anniversaries such as 100year birthday or the remarkable 70th wedding anniversary of Don and Eileen which was featured on Meridian TV.
So, what makes Second Chance Chichester different? I think the name says it all. Those donating much loved household items are assured of a second chance, going directly to someone in real need, not being sold for profit in a Charity shop. Old brown furniture is repaired and often upscaled by the Chichester Crafters into desirable items for a second chance. The household items get a second chance with people who are in desperate need or crisis, and this helps care for the environment as items are not going into the skip for disposal. People can choose what they want which does wonders for their self-esteem and wellbeing. There are many items like lamps, mirrors and pictures which can make an empty house into a home. There is no charge and there is free delivery thanks to Panther vans. Many can’t believe it after all they had gone through and often break into tears at first and then leave with a smile. The quality of the items is good and we have a policy that we won’t have any items which we wouldn’t have in our own homes.
Our day-to-day operation is a great success and very rewarding. We have now helped some 80 families in desperate need to make their house a home. We are all volunteers and the team are amazing. My thanks to them and to all those who support Second Chance Chichester
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 7 Aug 2024
The Charity status is certainly starting to make a difference to raising funds and although the national lottery fund application has been initially turned down, we have been encouraged to reapply.
The regular donations are most welcome and I would especially like to thank Tony and Pam Dignum for their generous monthly donations. The wonderful care home, Lakeview Grange have adopted Second Chance Chichester as their charity. I had been giving a series of talks and got to know the residents and staff well. We even have the T-shirt. Jackie Cridlin and Mary have been great. Their first event, a lovely garden fete in the garden, raised £315. I appeared as Town Crier and we had a lot of fun. The next event on Aug 24 is a sponsored walk by residents completing laps around the garden, Major Tom style. Our future plans include a charity concert with the Volya Choir and hopefully next year with the City Band. There are currently several applications for grants in the pipeline and we are in touch with Goodwood to see if we can be one of the chosen charities for collections at their event
However, it is a very difficult and competitive environment for funding for Charities and we are currently going forward on a month by month basis. It is hard to predict the future. We have no sales income so are dependent
Our day-to-day operation is a great success ad very rewarding. We have now helped some 70 families in desperate need to make their house a home. Many of the families directed to us are single mothers fleeing domestic violence, people recovering from disability of mental illness. The ability of people to come in and choose what they need really helps with their well-being and is where SCC differs from other local charities. Our small team of volunteers are outstanding, and the work of the Chichester Crafters means a lot more items are given a second chance. The Crafters meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at Leigh Road and would very much welcome new members, come along for a chat if you are interested. They have a large supply of Jaffa Cakes.. Our thanks to those who have given generous donation of really good quality items mainly but also the great support of Panther Vans for transport.
Finally, a big thankyou to all of you for your continued support and encouragement.
| “Thank you very much. For the help. Really appreciate it” “You are amazing can’t thank you enough” |
Our web site is well worth a look https://secondchancechichester.co.uk/. We continue to get lovely comments from the people we help and the need is certainly out there.
| Richard Plowman Director SCC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com |
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 6 Jun 2024
Good news at last. I am delighted to announce that Second Chance Chichester is now a registered charity 1208533. It has been a long haul and thanks to Richard Hancock for his persistence and Samantha Wright of VAAC for her help. We will be directly incorporating the CIC into the Charity for a smooth transition. Charity Status was an important milestone in our business plan
Charity status is important as it opens more funding opportunities and allows certain tax benefits such as business rate reduction and the ability to claim gift aid. We have already put in an application to the National Lottery Fund.
Our day-to-day operation has gone smoothly thanks to our great volunteers, the Chichester Crafters and generous donation of really good quality items mainly coming from private donations of items but also the great support of Panther Vans for transport. We have now helped some 60 families in desperate need to make their house a home. The ability of people to come in a choose what they need really helps with their well-being and is where SCC differs from other local charities
As I reported in newsletter 5, we needed a large grant to cover our main expenditure of the excellent premises in Leigh Road for this year. It was an important milestone to cover 2024 expenditure. Despite being encouraged by District Council to apply for the New Prosperity Levelling up fund, our request for modest funding was rejected together with some other charities assisting those in great difficulty because of the cost-of-living increase. We were all a little perplexed to find out the projects allocated these levelling up funds were for “event” projects such as the laser show, culture spark and the cross market. Was this the right priority and use for the levelling up funds? I gather there has been much criticism nationwide how Local Authorities have used these funds especially as they are relying on charities to deliver the services they have cut.
Funding post pandemic and now with the cost-of-living increases, has been very challenging for all charities and for a CIC like SCC even more difficult. I would particularly like to thank the donations from the City Mayor’s Charity, the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association, Rotary and the Corporation of St Pancras each one keeping us operating for another month. The team desperately want to keep going as the need is very much out there and increasing. We are looking at ways we can operate sustainably for the future and whether funding will now be easier with our new Charity Status.
Finally, a big thankyou to all of you for the support and encouragement.
| “Without Second Chance I would have nothing, Thank you so much.” |
Our web site is well worth a look https://secondchancechichester.co.uk/. We continue to get lovely comments from the people we help.
| Richard Plowman Director SCC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com |
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 5 Jan 2024
As we enter the New Year, it is a good time to reflect on Second Chance Chichester (SCC) since we opened for business at the end of March. Looking back, we have achieved most of the business plan except for funding to ensure we can carry on after April 2024. Our fundraising efforts have done well and are sponsors have been very generous, but we need a large grant to cover our main expenditure of the excellent premises in Leigh Road. The ability of people to come in a chose what they need really helps with their well-being as many are at very low ebb. Our motto of making a House a Home seems to ring true as many are going into empty properties even without carpets and curtains. The need is as great as ever and we are always busy.
One story which really reflects the ethos and special operation of Second Chance Chichester is the story of the BIG BED. A voucher was received for a family of mother and small children fleeing from abroad due to domestic abuse. Although now a single mother, the request was for a King size bed. Apparently, all the small children took great comfort by all snuggling up together in bed with their mother. We had been donated a King size bed, but it came in bits. On examination we found four brackets were missing. The now renamed Crafters here at Leigh Road manufactured the brackets and the bed was delivered with many other household items the next day by our great volunteers and thanks to the loan of a van from Panther Van hire. This makes the work of Second Chance Chichester so rewarding. Not only do we help the environment by stopping the bed being thrown away or even recycled which takes huge amount of energy, we are letting people who are in difficult financial circumstances chose quality items to make their house a home. (see the quote the end of the newsletter).
Not in the business plan were two rather nice developments. HSBC decided to allocate one of their volunteering days to SCC. They were brilliant putting together beds and furniture for a photograph and then dissembling them for storage. The storeroom for mainly kitchen items was completely transformed and the upstairs area was repurposed for soft furnishings.
The second development was because of a clearance of items, we were donated some antiques. As these would normally not be suitable for our people, the owners gave us permission to auction these off and use the funds to support SCC and raised nearly £1000.
We have not advertised our services for a fear of being overwhelmed in this first year of operation and we need to move to full Charity Status, our next milestone. Happy New year to you.
Our web site is well worth a look https://secondchancechichester.co.uk/. We continue to get lovely comments from the people we help.
| “ Thank you the bed is amazing, I love it. All your support has made such a difference to us. We’ve been able to pretty much instantly have a home, not just a bare house. “ |
| Richard Plowman Director SCC CIC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com |
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 4 Oct 2023
First six months of Second Chance Chichester (SCC) seem to have flown by. We have been busy still helping two families every week. The turnover of stock has been impressive. The private donations of great quality continues and the team have been really busy. One collection from a large house needed all hands-on deck. The operations team lead by Bruce Brechin and Bob Rendall, has expanded with Alan Broadhurst, Maurice Mayor, Keith Osterloh, Simon Taplin all helping out regularly. We also have one of two excellent volunteers acting as reserve. A key member of the team is Joanna El-Batal and we have now a very professional stock control system and office computer for real time updating. Both Bob and Simon are qualified PAT testers. Simon heads up the Chichester Shedders, now have their home at the Leigh Road Premises. Their upcycling restoration and repair work is impressive. Several items of unwanted brown furniture have been carefully restored and upcycled to match modern taste. One person made a bee line for one of these saying she loved it and must have it. This is what makes the work of Second Chance Chichester so rewarding. Not only do we help the environment by stopping useful items being thrown away or even recycled which takes huge amount of energy, we are letting people who are in difficult financial circumstances chose quality items to make their house a home.
Currently we have good stocks of tables, chairs and sofas, but white goods particularly fridges, freezers, microwaves and electrical items such as TVs, kettle, toasters, clocks are always in demand. Beds and carpets are also in demand. Carpets and curtains are very welcome for those moving into social housing which are usually empty often with bare floors. Each person’s needs are different so if you can help phone 07740621812
Business2Schools, our Partner have been very helpful. https://www.business2schools.com/ but it seems to be getting more difficult to obtain items from the big offices refurbishing in London. They are reluctant to pay the haulage to get the items to Chichester. However private donations have more than made up the difference. Thank you so much.
Funding will always be an issue as we have no income stream and it was disappointing that the Levelling funding from CDC was not forthcoming this time but we have been working with the very helpful VAAC to ensure the corporate governance is in place and finding other funding streams and charity status.
Our web site is well worth a look https://secondchancechichester.co.uk/. It took a little time for the search engines to register it. We continue to get lovely comments from the people we help.
| “ A big thank you , our daughter LOVES her room and settled in beautifully “ |
| Richard Plowman Director SCC CIC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com |
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 3 July 2023
Second Chance Chichester (SCC) is a now in its fourth month of operation and we have been busy helping to make a house a home for two families every week. A lot of stock has been moved and six grey sofas from B2S have all gone to good homes. All electrical items are PAT tested and checked before being released. Transport is always a difficult area and Panther Van Hire have been brilliant but we rely on a small team of volunteers. As well as PAT testing, Bob Rendal and his van have been invaluable. With Bruce Brechin and Keith Osterloh, they have proved a great team in collections and deliveries. The voucher system is working well with most referrals from the Supporting You team at CDC. https://www.chichester.gov.uk/supportingyouteam. As each person’s needs are different having the right stock is important and award winning Business2Schools have been very helpful. https://www.business2schools.com/ There have also been some high quality donations from private donors. Good quality beds and mattresses, rugs, white goods and TVs are always in demand so if you can help phone 07740621812. On average, each person goes away with about £1000 worth of goods as we often have to furnish empty houses. The three Rotary Clubs in Chichester have been working together and one of the excellent new developments is the Chichester Shedders having their base in Leigh Road, repairing and up-cycling particularly brown furniture. In fact, the Leigh Road premises are turning into a real community asset. Regalia from the Wheelbarrow club and Rotary items are being stored. The mezzanine floor also acted as an emergency rehearsal room for the Chichester Big Band.
| “Thank you so much for helping me and my girls make our house a home.” |
Funding will always be an issue as we have no income stream so we are actively working on applications for grants and any cash donations would be most welcome. One of our milestones in the Business Plan is a web site and we are nearly there so you can have a look at the beta site https://secondchancechichester.co.uk/ . The need is very much out there and we are also helping the environment. One of the families gave us the strap line for Second Chance Chichester. .
| Richard Plowman Director SCC CIC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com |
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 2 March 2023
Welcome to the second newsletter of the Second Chance Chichester CIC (Community Interest Company) 14192294.
Second Chance Chichester (SCC) is a new not-for- profit organisation which is the successor to the very successful Mayor’s Hardship Fund of the Pandemic.
On Tuesday March 14th, the Mayor of Chichester officially cut the ribbon and declared the SCC premises open for business. We were very grateful to Supersigns who subsidized and produced the excellent sign for the premises. Thanks to Business2Schools and personal donations we have some 250 household items in stock of excellent quality; mainly tables and chairs, comfy sofas, microwaves, small ovens. There have been other private donations of beds, lamps, monitors and TVs. Since opening the doors we have already helped several people in desperate need and crisis being re-housed into empty properties.
SCC will be working closely with and particularly Therese Brooks of Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour and Refuge, CAB. Local Authorities and Social services for verification of the vouchers .
How it works:
1. Those in need are given a single use voucher after verification by CAB or the Refuge, ( the same criteria as for use of the Foodbank)
2. An appointment is made by phone to visit the store.
3. Required goods may be selected from the store
4. A waiver is signed.
5. Delivery will be arranged.
Challenges ahead:
As we have no income other than grants and donations, Finance will be our main concern but thanks to a generous private donation, our first year operation is covered.
We are already grateful for the support from the Mayor and City Council, The Club of Chichester , Chichester District Council, The Corporation of St Pancras ( the Wheelbarrow Club) and especially Lindsey Parslow of B2S for all hersupport, help and advice.
Richard Plowman Director SCC CIC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com
Second Chance Chichester CIC Newsletter No 1 November 2022
Welcome to the first newsletter of the Second Chance Chichester CIC (Community Interest Company)14192294
Second Chance Chichester (SCC) is a new not-for- profit organisation which is the successor to the very successful Mayor’s Hardship Fund which helped up to 70 people in desperate circumstances during the Pandemic by providing them with replacement white goods such as cookers fridges and microwaves, lap tops, phones and many other items necessary these days for everyday living. Many helped were homeless just moving into accommodation and had nothing.
Although the Pandemic is over, the cost of living crisis with high energy and food prices means the need to support people with no money or resources is very much with us and demand increasing. In fact, behind the scenes SCC has been helping people out including some of the Ukrainian guests desperately wanting to stand on their own two feet. However we are now reaching a point when we believe we can may a real difference.
So how does SCC work? Well it is really like the Food Bank but for those in desperate need for white goods like fridges, tech goods like a TV or laptops, and small items of furnishing suchas chairs, cupboards, lamps and kettles. People will be referred to us and we will be operating out of a show room in Leigh Road off Terminus road. Goods will come from donations, house clearances but mainly from the association with Business2Schools Charity which has surplus goods from office clearances. We will have our own transport for collection and deliveries. We also hoping to train up some of those we have helped in the past for repair and PAC training for certification of electrical goods.
Where are we now? As you can imagine starting up SCC is not a simple operational, it takes time and is expensive. We have been very lucky as we have a private sponsor who will cover the first year’s cost. We have currently found a suitable premises and just completing a tenancy agreement. We have also made arrangements for transport. However funding will be tight and we shall be undertaking fund raising activities and hope for help from the Councils.
We hope to be in the new building by January 1st 2023 and fully functional soon after. Chris Spinks will be our Operational manager and I will act in the role of Director but we will be seeking volunteers to help.
We are already grateful for the support to get us this far from the Mayor and City Council, Rotary, the Corporation of St Pancras ( the Wheelbarrow Club) and especially Lindsey Parslow of B2S for all her help and advice.
Richard Plowman Director SCC CIC 07740621812 plowman.richard@btinternet.com
WELCOME TO SECOND CHANCE CHICHESTER 