Our people

The strength of Refurnish is its people

Staff, volunteers and partners together create an organisation that delivers real services while building opportunities for people across the community.

The Doncaster Refurnish sewing team together in the workshop

The team

A skilled, dedicated team

Our experienced staff bring a wide range of practical and professional expertise, from furniture restoration and logistics to retail, customer service and community engagement. Together they make sure services run safely, efficiently and with care. Just as importantly, they mentor others: helping volunteers and trainees build the confidence and practical ability they need to move on into employment or further training. It is this everyday, hands-on knowledge that keeps our work dependable and our standards high.

People painting picture frames together at a Doncaster Refurnish upcycling workshop

Volunteering

Volunteering and participation

Volunteers are vital to our work. People from across the community give their time and energy to furniture preparation, warehouse support, retail assistance and customer service. In return, volunteering offers a genuine chance to gain experience in a real working environment, develop teamwork and communication, learn new technical skills, and build confidence and routine. Many find that reconnecting with others through purposeful work matters just as much as the practical experience they gain.

A forklift moving a pallet of goods outside the Doncaster Refurnish warehouse unit

What comes next

Pathways into employment

A key part of our mission is helping people move towards sustainable work. Through structured volunteering, practical training and work-based experience, people build the confidence and capability that employment asks for. Many use their time with us as a springboard, progressing into a job, moving on to further training or education, developing career aspirations and strengthening their employability. With encouragement, mentoring and real responsibility, people recognise their own potential and take the next step forward.

Skills people build here

Real, transferable and earned on the job: the things someone can put on an application after their time with us.

Furniture repair and restoration
Logistics and warehousing
Retail and customer service
Upcycling and creative reuse
Teamwork and communication
PAT testing and safety checks

Grow with us

Whether you can give an hour a week or want a supported route back into work, there is a place for you at Refurnish.

Volunteer with us

Tins of furniture paint and hardware set out on a shop display in Doncaster Refurnish

A skilled, dedicated team

Volunteering and participation

Pathways into employment