Spotlight Series: How Furnishing Futures creates healing homes for survivors of domestic abuse

If you could imagine the process of being rehoused after surviving domestic abuse, the last thing you might expect is to move into an empty property with nothing in it - not a bed to sleep in, not even a table to settle around. That was the harsh reality witnessed by social worker and interior designer Emily Wheeler.

This experience inspired the birth of Furnishing Futures, a London based charity with nation-wide ambition. At Christmas time, support against a different (often overlooked) type of homelessness is why we feature this amazing small charity in the latest of our charity spotlight series. 

The Problem: Empty Homes After Domestic Abuse

In 2019 Emily founded the charity Furnishing Futures, bringing together her experience in social care and her passion for design. She saw that many women and children emerging from domestic abuse were being rehoused in empty properties, with little hope and fewer essentials. Determined to change that, she created a charity dedicated to turning empty spaces into homes that truly support healing and new beginnings.

The Solution: Furnishing Future's Healing Homes Model

At Furnishing Futures, the mission is simple but powerful: to transform empty properties into healing homes for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. How? By partnering with donors and the interiors industry to gather beautiful furniture that would otherwise go to landfill. Seconds, returns, end-of-line stock are all used to furnish homes for families starting again.

A Story of Change: Shannon’s Story

Shannon and her child were rehoused in a one bedroom Council flat, which were transformed into a healing home using furniture donated by companies including Suna Design, Stylist magazine, Anthropologie and Soho Home. Flooring and decoration were provided by professional local trades.

“After fleeing domestic violence again and again for more than ten years, there was always something we had to leave behind. It was extremely difficult trying to rebuild my life each time with limited support and resources. I felt like I was letting my child down because I couldn’t afford to furnish our home. At times I considered returning to the abusive relationship so my child would have a bed to sleep in.”

Before Furnishing Futures....

 “Words can’t describe what our lovely new home means to me. I sit for hours in silence, just in shock staring at all the lovely things. I can’t believe it’s mine and I have somewhere safe for me and my child to live now with flooring, furniture and white goods.”

After Furnishing Futures.

But it’s about more than furniture. Furnishing Futures, using philanthropic support, also provides wrap-around practical and emotional support to help women settle into their new homes, regain confidence and rebuild independence. Their newly launched social enterprise and community space, The Atrium in Leyton, offers workshops, training and wellbeing activities so survivors don’t just move in, they can move forward, connect to others, and be supported and nurtured.

The Impact: Hundreds Helped

Since launching, Furnishing Futures has made a huge difference to families across the capital.

Over 120 furnished homes created across London, supporting more than 300 women and children rebuild their lives in comfort, dignity and safety.

There has also been a positive environmental impact from this work:

• Thousands of high-quality furniture items diverted from landfill, proving that social and environmental impact can go hand-in-hand.

• Feedback from residents highlights how the warmth, beauty and care invested in their new homes helps them feel secure, hopeful and valued again.

Looking Ahead: A Not Unreasonable Dream

Their vision for the future is bold, but not entirely unreasonable: to ensure every woman and child rehoused after domestic abuse can move into a safe, comfortable, fully furnished home. Over the next four years, therefore, Furnishing Futures plans to scale services across London, with an ultimate goal of becoming a national charity. 

How GoodFX Supports This Mission

GoodFX clients such as Surface Matter help to support Furnishing Futures all year round. By reducing and repurposing their traditional business banking fees that would otherwise just float off into the atmosphere.

How You Can Help If you’d like to get involved with Furnishing Future's work, you can also do one of the following:

• Donate good quality furniture by filling out this form

• Sign up to volunteer (they accept corporate teams!)

• Attend one of their upcoming events at The Atrium

• Sign up to their newsletter to stay up to date with their latest campaigns, events and behind-the-scenes work. 

The goal of this blog is to raise awareness of the work of Furnishing Futures, and highlight during this month of December that the need for their services that sadly is not diminishing. It is part of GoodFX's theory of change to shine a light on smaller charities and to show a reader actionable ways they can make a difference. We hope you do!