Established in 1906 to help High Wycombe's poor

Central Aid now provides furniture, appliances, furnishings and flooring to the homeless and referred clients going through a crisis throughout Bucks.   Our band of volunteers work in all parts of the operation:  doing deliveries and collections on the van,  PAT test electrical appliances, assist clients in the furniture warehouse,  sort, cleaning, repair and display donated goods,  help with online activity, scheduling, marketing, administration and facilities.  Long-term unemployed volunteers receive work experience and skills each year. 
We have been able to offer paid work to some when the opportunity arises.

Referrals come from Buckinghamshire social services, hospitals and GPs, housing associations, local homeless & crisis, disease, children's, women's, ex-forces and refugee support charities  

We also trade with the public in order to finance our work.  We offer all manner of donated goods at the furniture warehouse or online (Ebay). 

The most recent Annual Report is published on the Charity Commission website Charity Number 201445     


Household furniture

Beds, 2-person bunks and mattresses always needed.  Check mattresses very thoroughly, in a good light, for stains from whatever cause and on all sides - as they cannot be taken.  (Not Super kings (6ft) or high/cabin beds)
Cabin and high beds are usually refused due to low demand and the extra work required to  assemble/disassemble/store safely/carry/demonstrate to customers. 
Pack and label bolts, screws etc. 
We need attached fire labels and no stains, rips or hard wear on fabrics such as -armchairs, sofas, futons, mattresses, divans. 

Drawers, bedside drawers  and wardrobes that can be managed inside smaller flats are needed. Check they are empty and clean.  If they need dismantling for removal or transport let us know if you can do this. 

Dining tables, coffee tables, dining chairs, bookshelves, TV units in good condition

Cabinets, sideboards, welsh dressers, display cabinets- less need  -small/medium sizes are best

Sofas, sofabeds, armchairs are required - strict size limit 1.85m 
We are offered far more than we can manage.   Fire label needed for fabrics/foam/fillings  - and no rips, stains, tears, hard wear/fading. 

We have very limited facilities for storage or to carry out repair work safely.  Minor fixes can be made when volunteers are available but we rarely have the space, people or resources for a 'lick of paint',  ' a quick sand down' or to clean and mend fabrics.  We have never gone to the lengths of   'just re -cover ' a sofa or armchair, or needed to 'throw a blanket over it'.   There are so many good, clean, undamaged sofas offered. 

Electricals

Free standing (disconnected ideally) electric cookers -  washers, dryers, spinners, fridges, freezers, vacuums, microwaves, heaters, fans, small kitchen and household appliances, flat screen TVs, DVD players, radio/ Hifi systems, Sky, Freeview, Freesat boxes, electrical tools, hair and beauty items.  In clean and working order WITH instructions, hoses, remote controls, cables etc ideally.  We will consider integrated ovens, hobs, fridges, freezers and washing machines. 
Computers, printers (with spare cartridge) , shredders, phones, routers sometimes.  American f/freezers are generally too difficult to move on.
Annual Report
The most recent published report is on the Charity Commission website  Charity No. 201445