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I have a friend who is on benefits (two children plus baby) her fridge freezer has just packed up and she needs a new one, but she does not have enough money for a new one, can anyone recommend a cheap source.

There's these people in Oxford:

Emmaus Oxford Furniture Store

Collection of  furniture and electrical goods in good condition to pass to people on low incomes.
The Old Community Centre, Westlands Drive, Northway, OX3 9QY
01865 763698
furniture@emmausoxford.org

And Newbury has a Community Furniture Project that sell re-used fridges at a discount to people on benefits.  See http://www.cfpnewbury.org/buyus.php

She may need a referral or proof of her income for some of the community furniture stores(she could ask the CAB or local chidren's centre for a referral).

Otherwise she could always try freecycle.

She may qualify for a crisis loan through the Social Fund.


The form can be downloaded here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017683

She should be able to make a reasonable arguement that there's serious risk if she's without a fridge - storing of baby bottles - even if she's breastfeeding she might want to keep a pint handy!

I'm sure she could get a crisis loan for it, as its an essential item.

She will have to pay this back though, so if it was me I would put a Wanted ad on Freecyle or in shop windows, she probably wouldnt have to wait too long.

I do not think that the referral to the community furniture project is an issue, she had some funiture from them when she moved into her current house.  The problem is that there was a frudge/freezer in the property when she moved in but landlord left it as a favour and does not see it as their responsibility to replace it since it is an unfunrnished property.  Their english is not very good and they certainly are finding the system hard to deal with. 

They are been here many years but now the work has dried up finding things very hard.  They could do with some help from someone who is a bit more streetwise

Many thanks for your help folks I will chase up some of your suggestions for them.

I don't know about the Emmaus in Oxford but the brighton store is great, we furnished our son'd small flat for a very small amount  :)

what about freecycle or your local equvalent there are always some on there though may have to be seperates

I second the freecycle route.

Also, up by me (West Midlands) there seems to have been a big increase with places asking for fridges & freezers as scrap.

If you're able to, you may want to try contacting local scrap merchants, to see if they have any working fridges / freezers, as some people will just throw out a perfectly good old one when they 'upgrade'.

Similiarly, some local kitchen fitters may have some, as they'll have taken them out when re-doing the whole kitchen.

As it costs money to scrap them, you may be able to get one cheap - but you'd probably have to pick it up.

Garage sales & house clearances might be worth a look - they should be advertised locally.

Also, if you have any council houses nearby, it's worth a look out for skips.  If the council are renovating places they may have old ones that you could ask for.  I guess that goes for skips in general - if they're a sign that a kitchen is being done up.

It's jolly decent of you to be taking the time to help with this.  I'm sure it's much appreciated.

I've just advertised a freezer on our local freecycle.....its a bit tatty but works perfectly and would be fine for the shed or garage.

Im taking bets on how many will want it....Im guessing around 3 or 4.Hopefully someone will want it anyway.Shame to take it to the local tip!

As well as freecycle, it might be worth a call to the furniture re-use network http://www.frn.org.uk/default.asp

They uplifted some furniture from my uncle's house when he passed away last year. I don't know what the arrangement is with the goods and how they decide who gets them but there's a 'need furniture' section on the menu on the homepage that lets you contact your local project.

Hope they get something sorted soon.  :)

I don't know your area but there should be a list of all the community groups in your city on the city website  on it you should find all kinds of local  sites that will help. There are many more out there than most folks realise.I used a list extensively in Hull when helping families there but much was area specific. Many of the contacts were little known even to Social Services . XX Jeannine