Appeals: The Furniture Resource Centre (FRC)

The Furniture Resource Centre (FRC) refurnishes homes for people in need, respecting the dignity of the recipients by ensuring that only furnishing items in good condition are redistributed. The centre has helped more than 7,000 families on Merseyside since it was formed in 1988, but estimates that it is serving only 2 per cent of those who qualify for help. To draw attention to what it regards as the inadequacy of the Social Fund provision, next week two workers are cycling round the country to establish links with similar centres on their way to London to lobby Nicholas Scott, the Minister for Social Security. Supporters can join the sponsored cycle-ride at any point: on Monday 21 June, at Edinburgh; Wednesday 23, Newcastle upon Tyne; Friday 25, Liverpool; Monday 28, Birmingham; Wednesday 30, Cardiff; Thursday 1 July, Bristol; Monday 5, London. For further information, contact:

Furniture Resource Centre (Merseyside) Ltd, 232b Aigburth Road, Liverpool L17 9PE, telephone 051-727 4343.