10 years of Big Help Project - Trading
It's the fourth week of our #TBT series, over the past few weeks we have been taking a look back on the history of the Big Help Project in celebration of our 10-year anniversary. This week we're taking a look back at the trading arm of Big Help.
Big Help Trading is a Limited Company, set up back in 2015 and owned by Big Help Project. Initially, it was a way of raising funds for the Big Help Project; to ensure we could keep supporting people for as long as we have. It currently operates 4 shops, a Community Re-Paint project and offers PAT testing to charities, housing associations and other third sector organisations.
We set up our first retail outlet for Big Help Trading in Huyton as a community shop. The community shops have allowed us to build stronger links within the communities we aid, and also serves as a way for people to access the Big Help Project’s support services; whilst acting as a donation point for Knowsley Foodbank.
Since starting Big Help Trading, we soon saw that there was a growing need for white goods; and a more ethical alternative to typical rent-to-own lending. Since the boom of rent-to-own lending, many people saw it as an opportunity to be able to own white goods; however these services foster a cycle of debt, with lenders offering more goods each time to lead people into longer loan repayments. Our aim was to make sure people could get the goods that they need, at a price that is affordable that ensures effective budget management without falling into debt; out of this Homes With Style was born. Homes With Style is our alternative to traditional rent-to-own stores. We work with ethical finance providers such as Conduit to give people the opportunity to own white goods and furniture at lower rates of interest, and without fear of repossession and not be pushed into unnecessary debt.
Want to visit our shops? You can find us in these locations:
Bootle Strand, 73 The Hexagon, L20 4SZ.
Unit 8, Prescot Shopping Centre, Eccleston St, Prescot, Knowsley, L34 5GA.
53 Derby Road, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 9UQ.
8 Dovecot Place, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, L14 9PH.