Plan to convert Barrow daycare centre into base for domestic appliances charity

Barrow Domestic Appliances has put forward proposals to convert the former centre in Barrow's High Street.

It would allow the charity to increase its services with its current base at Lawson Street too small, plans say.

The proposals are currently out for public consultation.

A statement making up the plans said: "Whilst providing this service to the local community we are able to provide opportunity for volunteers, placements and give them work experience and training.

"Since starting we have provided places for 16 volunteers and six placements from other organisations.

"At present we are in small premises in Lawson Street.

"These premises have become too small to accommodate our services and we need to move to larger premises.

"Our landlord has planning permission to convert the premises to accommodation and we will need to vacate in the next few months.

"We cannot meet demand at the moment due to lack of space."

An explanation of what the charity does was also spelt out in the statement,

It said: "We have been in existence since 2013 originally as a community interest company.

"Our objects are: the relief of financial hardship; recycling; the relief of poverty and social inclusion.

"Our purpose is to benefit the worse off in Barrow and the surrounding areas by providing low cost domestic appliances to those in need.

"We do this by collecting unwanted electronic equipment free of charge, then refurbishing them to Reuse Network standards and providing them at a lower cost than other retail outlets.

"We also provide a repair service with no call out fee.

"We have connections with a number of other organisations such as children's and adult services, Women's Community Matters, The Well, CADAS and Humankind.

"The more goods we can access the cheaper we can supply them and increase our reuse and recycling rates.

"This extra space incoming goods means we can also take on more staff, volunteers and placements."