Furnishing Futures is the UK’s only charity designing homes for domestic abuse survivors, writes Marco Marcelline

A local domestic abuse charity is to open a “healing space” in Leyton, where visitors can attend workshops, supper clubs, talks, and buy homeware and furnishings.

Furnishing Futures, which is the UK’s only charity designing “trauma-informed, healing homes” for domestic abuse survivors, will open The Atrium at Leyton’s Mentmore Studios on Saturday, 11th October.

The Atrium will host workshops, supper clubs, talks, and expert panels, all raising funds to support domestic abuse survivors and those experiencing furniture poverty.

As a multifunctional venue, The Atrium will also be home to a fundraising retail showroom, stocked with homeware and furnishings donated by design partners including Heal’s, COAT Paints, Patch Plants, Swyft and Le Creuset. All proceeds will support the charities’ mission to create fully furnished homes for domestic abuse survivors.

Furnishing Futures CEO Emily Wheeler, Credit: Nikki Hinton

Having seen first-hand the reality of less than 2% of UK social homes coming furnished and the empty homes women and children were being housed in, former social worker and interior designer Emily Wheeler founded Furnishing Futures in 2019, with it becoming a registered charity in 2021.

Furnishing Futures CEO Emily Wheeler said: “We believe that everyone deserves a home that’s safe, comfortable and beautiful. The Atrium is a physical expression of that belief, it’s an inspiring, uplifting place that brings together people, design and purpose to help rebuild lives and create systemic change.

“By coming here and becoming part of this community and supporting our events, people can be part of a thoughtful, integrity driven conversation, come away with something beautiful for their home and in doing so, support the families who really need it.”

The Atrium opening will also coincide with the launch of Furnishing Futures’ membership programme, which will allow members access to “bespoke events, early product drops, workshops, and a growing network of like-minded changemakers and thought leaders”.

Since conception, Furnishing Futures has created 120 healing homes and supported 300 women and children through refurbished refuges. Once housed, the charity also provides six to twelve months of ongoing support to help women rebuild, as well as offering volunteer, training and mentoring opportunities to survivors.

This year, Furnishing Futures was presented the Responsible Design Award – Interiors, by House & Garden magazine’s annual awards.

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