For most people, retirement is a time to slow down, but for 70-year-old Gosport resident Nigel Woodcock, it’s full speed ahead delivering furniture and household essentials to families in need through the local charity, Hub4Stuff.
Nigel has been a volunteer driver with the charity for the past two years and says it’s one of the most rewarding roles he’s ever had – no small statement from a man who spent 32 years in the Royal Navy and a further 18 in the Civil Service.
“I like to help people,” Nigel says. “The pleasure on their faces when I drop off furniture is priceless.”
A charity born from its community spirit
Hub4Stuff serves the communities of Gosport, Fareham, and the surrounding areas, offering support to low-income individuals and families in need of furniture and household essentials. They provide a donation-based van removal service to collect and redistribute items, collaborating with local organisations to assist those transitioning into permanent housing.
Founded just four years ago by Gosport and Fareham residents Patsie Ruzewicz and Fiona Cooke, Hub4Stuff was created to fill a gap in the community. “Some residents were struggling on low incomes and in desperate need of furniture, while others had perfectly good items they no longer needed. The founders built a bridge between these two groups, connecting those who could give with those who needed,” says Nigel.
Operating out of a donated storage facility at Royal Haslar, the charity is run entirely by 10 volunteers, which includes five pensioners and five younger people. It also works with local employment initiative, Level Up, to give people valuable work experience and a route back into the workplace.
Requests and donations are coordinated through the charity’s Facebook page, where residents can reach out if they need an item or have something to give up.
More than just furniture
For people on low incomes, or those moving from temporary accommodation into council housing, Hub4Stuff is often the difference between an empty room and a real home.
“Some people have absolutely nothing,” Nigel explains. “It’s an incredible feeling to furnish their home and see the transformation. People are very grateful to you, which is a wonderful feeling.”
Since its creation, Hub4Stuff has helped over 1,500 families …. Distributing 3,500 items, keeping much-needed items in circulation and reducing landfill waste and helping the environment.
How it works
Referrals often come from the local council, particularly when someone is moving into housing and needs essentials. Other times, requests are made directly via Facebook.
Nigel says the charity’s work is different from traditional charity shops as they collect and deliver the items directly, making it easier for donors and recipients.
“We have a fantastic donating community. People are happy to see their things rehoused rather than thrown away. And they don’t have to worry about dropping them off somewhere as we collect,” he says.
“There are some limits, however, large three-seater sofas rarely fit in council homes, so we focus on two-seaters.” Nigel says the “golden list” of most-requested items includes chest-of-drawers, two-seater sofas, microwaves, electric cookers, beds and washing machines.
Driving change in the community
Nigel’s route into volunteering began when a friend suggested the role, saying he’d be perfect for it – and they were right.
“It’s incredibly rewarding,” Nigel says with a smile. “You feel like you’ve done something that really matters.”
Nigel is proof that retirement doesn’t have to mean stepping back, and sometimes it means stepping up. And for the thousands of families who have benefitted from Hub4Stuff, those steps make all the difference.
For more information please visit: https://hub4stuff.co.uk/ The Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/Hub4Stuff