Announcing Our Partnership with Furnishing Futures
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We’re incredibly proud to announce Furnishing Futures as the Official Charity Partner of Ideal Home Show 2026.
Furnishing Futures is a charity dedicated to creating healing homes for women and children who have escaped domestic abuse and been placed in empty social housing. Their work transforms completely unfurnished properties into safe, welcoming spaces where families can begin to rebuild their lives with dignity.
At Ideal Home Show, we celebrate the transformative power of home, and through this partnership, we’re turning that inspiration into meaningful action.
Our 2026 Fundraising GoalAt this year’s Show, our £5,000 target represents something tangible and achievable, the full design and furnishing of one complete healing home.
Being specific matters. It allows us to clearly show what collective support can accomplish. This funding will help provide the essentials that turn an empty property into a place of comfort and stability - beds to sleep in, a sofa to gather on, a table to share meals around, storage, lighting and those thoughtful finishing touches that make a space feel safe and lived in.
Visitors can be part of that transformation by adding a donation when purchasing their show tickets or by contributing at the Show during their visit.
Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to turning an empty house into a nurturing home — and demonstrates the powerful difference our community can make together.
Why This Matters
Furniture poverty is a devastating issue for more than 14 million people in the UK, and is a problem that is literally hidden behind closed doors.
Less than 2% of social housing comes furnished. For vulnerable women and children fleeing domestic abuse, being placed into empty social housing leaves them feeling worthless and compounds their trauma. Buying essential items is also a leading cause of debt for vulnerable families, keeping them in poverty.
Despite this, 22 million pieces of furniture end up in landfill every year, much of which is in new or as new condition. Furnishing Futures bridges this gap by rescuing high-quality items from the interiors industry and using them to create safe, comfortable homes for families in need.
As part of our partnership, Furnishing Futures will have a dedicated presence at the Show, giving visitors the opportunity to see first-hand the life-changing impact of their work.
Within the life-sized Ideal Home, visitors will be able to experience a powerful “before and after” transformation, seeing how an empty property can become a nurturing, fully furnished home. It’s a chance to understand not just what they do, but how they do it, and why thoughtful design plays such an important role in helping women and families begin again.
The Furnishing Futures team will be on hand throughout the event, offering visitors the opportunity to speak with them directly, hear more about the amazing work they do, and learn how they can get involved.
What’s On
On Friday 11th April, visitors can take part in a luxury candle-making workshop, a creative, hands-on experience designed to inspire calm and reflection, celebrating the power of home environments to nurture wellbeing.
On Wednesday 15th April, Emily Wheeler, Founder and CEO of Furnishing Futures, will speak on both the Main Stage and the Spring Clean Stage, sharing powerful insight into how our homes can support wellbeing, mental clarity and healing.
Drawing on her experience creating safe, fully furnished homes for women and children escaping domestic abuse, Emily explores the deep connection between environment and emotional recovery, and why thoughtful interiors can play a vital role in rebuilding lives.
Turning Inspiration into Impact
Reaching our £5,000 milestone means one empty property can be transformed into a healing home. And while this is our immediate goal for the Show, every pound raised also helps shine a light on the wider issue of furniture poverty and supports Furnishing Futures’ ongoing mission to create many more healing homes.
With the support of our visitors, exhibitors and partners, we believe we can achieve something truly meaningful - turning inspiration into impact, and empty houses into homes filled with hope.
If you're able to, a small donation today could help us move closer to our £5,000 target and make a real difference to families without essential furniture.
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