Shop fittings and furniture donated as Grafton Centre strip-out starts

The major regeneration of the Grafton Centre in Cambridge is officially underway, with strip-out work beginning on the site’s empty retail units. This significant redevelopment will see part of the centre transformed into state-of-the-art science laboratories, alongside the creation of a vibrant new public square designed to attract visitors to the shops and cafés that will remain.

The project’s strip-out contractor Demcom has partnered with local homelessness charity Emmaus to repurpose and reuse furniture and shop-fitting items to raise money to tackle homelessness in the city.

Emmaus Cambridge is a charity that offers a home, work and personal support to a community of formerly homeless people in Cambridgeshire. From their shop in the village of Landbeach, just outside Cambridge, they sell donated furniture both in the store and online.

Find out more at: https://emmaus.org.uk/cambridge/ 

Laura Johnson, Contracts Manager at Demcom – the Cambridge-based demolition company –  said:

“As a company we want to move away from the old image of the demolition industry. We strongly believe that waste should not be wasted, and target a 95% reprocessing rate. Often that means crushing waste hardcore, sorting material, and working with recycling facilities to recycle and reuse as much waste as possible. But the Grafton Centre units had fittings and furniture that could still have a useful life in someone’s home or a shop. We’re excited to work with Emmaus to put this material to a use that helps our local community in a meaningful way.”

John O’Shea, manager of the Grafton Centre, added:

“The goal of the regeneration of the Grafton Centre is to bring this old shopping centre building back into viable, long-term use for the benefit of the local community. So it’s very fitting that instead of just throwing away the old shelves, seats, and furniture, Demcom and Emmaus have found a way to make the most of what we have here to benefit a fantastic local charity. I am really proud to be part of this partnership.”

Demcom is currently recruiting local people who want to work in a modern, sustainable construction company, and invites people to get in touch at: https://www.demcom.co.uk/contact