OUR CHARITY
partnerships
Here at The Cotswold Company, we believe everyone deserves a safe space to call their own. And that belief goes beyond the furniture we make.
We're proud to partner with three causes close to our hearts. With Emmaus, we support people without a home to get back on their feet and find long-term housing. The Change Please, we help train people experiencing homelessness to become baristas, giving them skills and employment to rebuild their lives. And with Furnishing Futures, we help create fully furnished homes for women and children rehoused after escaping domestic abuse.
Who are Emmaus
Emmaus (pronounced em-may-us) provides those experiencing homelessness a place to stay for as long as they need, together with training, emotional support and employment for a weekly allowance.
What do Emmaus do?
Since opening in 1991, Emmaus now nurtures 29 residential communities across the UK. Here, they support more than 850 people who have experienced homelessness
They provide a stable home, food, clothing and social activities in return for 40 hours a week of meaningful employment
Companions gain new skills for their future by working within their community's social enterprise. Each enterprise is unique and offers different opportunities. This includes sites with community-run coffee shops, charity stores where companions prepare clothes for sale and workshops for learning how to renovate and upcycle donated furniture
During 2017-2018, Emmaus saved more than 12,000 tonnes of goods from going to landfill through their social enterprise scheme
Why have we chosen to partner with Emmaus?
Emmaus recognise homelessness as a social issue in need of change, not simply providing a bed for the night. It's about giving people a sense of belonging and offering them the opportunity to work their way towards a brighter future. It is this dedication and their long-term commitment to sustainable solutions that continue to inspire us.
How do we support Emmaus?
Entering our fourth year, we remain dedicated to supporting Emmaus in strengthening their communities and services sustainably. As furniture specialists, we offer our expertise, together with a range of different initiatives. This includes donations, using our voice online to raise awareness and fundraising events.
How much we've raised
TOTAL RAISED:
£41,840
2022
The Cotswold Way Challenge
To kick start our Emmaus partnership, our dedicated team of staff volunteers completed the Cotswold Way Challenge - walking or running over 300km between them.
2023
Scafell Pike Climb
In May 2023 a number of employees took on the challenge of climbing Scafell Pike. Located in the Lake District National Park, it is the highest mountain in England, standing 978 meters above sea level. Reaching the peak in 11 hours, we beat our initial target of £5000 and raised £6,224 for Emmaus.
2024
Fundraising Walks & Cycles
We undertook several challenges in 2024: completing a 10-mile circular walk starting from our Stow-on-the-Wold store in July, The Cotswolds Classic cycle ride in August and ending the year with another circular 10-mile walk from the Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney site in September.
2025 & 2026
The London Marathon
Raising an incredible £2500 in 2025 and £2416 in 2026 for Emmaus, Ross, our Technical Product Improvement Manager, successfully completed the London Marathon 2 years in a row and has confirmed his spot for 2027.
2025
Comfort with a cause
In 2025, we introduced two beautiful fringed cushion designs. Embroidered with 'home' and 'love', they successfully raised £11,370 - and we're excited to be releasing another cushion collaboration with Emmaus later this year. In stores, we offered customers attending our Christmas events, the opportunity to personalise a Christmas stocking with their- or a loved one's - initials.
Head Office fundraising
Our Head Office team have been working hard to raise funds for the cause - from bake sales to auctions and pre-loved clothes sales.
DECEMBER 2025
We called on the talented makers and crafters within the business to create handmade items we could sell at an in-house auction - from delicious chutneys to beautiful pottery - we raised £568.
JANUARY 2026
We held a homewares sample sale earlier this year - with cushion covers, throws and rugs - raising £537.
Two more causes we're proud to support
Action leads to impact and impact leads to change - which is why we've chosen to support Change Please and Furnishing Futures, who are making that happen.
Who are Change Please?
Founded in 2015, they help to fight homelessness in the UK & Ireland through the power of social enterprise and delicious coffee.
What do Change Please do?
They help to train people who are experiencing homelessness to become specialty coffee baristas - and support them with everything they need to turn their lives around, including accommodation advice, therapy and onward employment opportunities
How do we support Change Please?
We made a conscious decision to switch to Change Please for our coffee machine at our Norwich Head Office.
Who are Furnishing Futures?
Partnering with the interiors industry, Furnishing Futures helps to create fully furnished homes for vulnerable women and children who have been rehoused in unfurnished accommodation. It's estimated 22 million pieces of furniture end up in landfill every year, much of which is new, so this initiative is helping to provide a sustainable solution to the crisis - whilst supporting the physical and emotional wellbeing of domestic abuse survivors.
How do we suuport Furnishing Futures?
At the end of our photoshoots, we donate the furniture and homewares to Furnishing Futures.
In 2025, we helped Furnishing Futures to provide:
80 fully furnished healing homes
178 children with a safe, healing home
Avoid 42 tonnes of CO2 emissions
Save 8.5 tonnes of furnishings from landfill
2,190 hours of advice, advocacy, safety planning and support
