SCRATCH was founded in 1999 to relieve the effects of poverty for families and individuals with needs recognised by approved referral agencies in Southampton and surrounding areas.

 

Located in Southampton, they provide assistance to families and individuals in Southampton and across Hampshire.

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Dorcas Project (now known as Furnish to Flourish) was their first project and started over 30 years ago (long before SCRATCH was even thought about) when one of the founding Directors fell through a friend’s settee.  Being the bright spark that he is, he realised that she needed a new one, so enquired at the church he was attending at the time if anyone had a settee that they no longer needed.  From that first delivery he heard of other disadvantaged families requiring furniture, so asked around to see if anyone had items available.

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Their Mission Statement is "to relieve the effects of poverty for families and individuals with needs recognised by approved referral agencies in Southampton and the surrounding area and to support likeminded organisations".

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To help them achieve this aim, they focus on People, Product and Place.

 

• People - Staff and volunteers are valued and developed

• Product - Our funder requirements are fulfilled

• Place - SCRATCH communicates effectively with the local and wider community

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They achieve these aims through their projects: 

• Furnish to Flourish

  • Providing good quality furniture and household items

• Removals Project

  • Providing an emergency removal scheme mainly in conjunction with Winchester City Council

• Christmas Complete

  • Providing toys and gifts for children and young people who otherwise might go without presents

• Community Re-Paint

  • Redistributing donated paint to referred clients and community group