THE future of a project which provides furniture for people struggling on low incomes has been secured thanks to grants totalling £26,000.

Craven Voluntary Action's furniture store collects unwanted furniture and electrical goods and passes them on to needy people who cannot afford to buy their own.

Project managers at the Skipton-based organisation have now reached their fundraising target of £26,000 to keep the service running until April 2001.

The money has come from grants from several bodies, including £16,000 boost from Yorventure.

In the 10 years since the furniture store project was launched, thousands of items have been distributed and it has built up massive support from the Craven community.

Local businesses provide free storage, two local electricians offer free safety checks for electrical goods and a team of volunteers help with collection and delivery.

The Yorventure cash has come through tipping tax from Northallerton-based waste management company Yorwaste.

CVA furniture store project manager Jacqui Baines told the Herald: "We're kept very busy. We have a co-ordinator working 15 hours a week with volunteers to help him.

"Not only is it helping people on low incomes, but we're also helping recycling items which otherwise would probably be taken to the tip.

"The support of local businesses and individuals has enabled us to provide a valuable resource to the Craven district. Our long term aim is to make the project self-financing."

o Craven District Council has given the CVA £1,000 from its community chest grants pot. When members of the community development committee met, they agreed to sanction the cash because of "the important role the organisation plays across the district."

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