THEY have become a victim of their own success.

And sadly for recycling charity Starter Packs it's not something to rejoice about it – it means more families need their help.

The Govan-based charity, which helps people beginning a new tenancy start over again, is now embarking on a £50,000 fundraising task to raise money for new premises.

After more than 10 years in the heart of Govan, they are determined to remain within the community and have earmarked an industrial unit in Helen Street as their future home.

As the number of referrals from housing associations all over the city continue to rise, Starter Packs know there is a desperate need to expand.

The charity's remarkable efforts were recognised in 2010 at the Evening Times' high-profile Community Champions Awards with the Team prize.

Sarah Findlay, development manager, said: "In a way we have become a victim of our own success and have out grown our home in Burleigh Street. We were even delighted when we secured these premises just a couple of years ago, but we literally have nowhere to turn now."

The concern for Sarah and her team is that they are having to turn away donations of furniture and had been looking at storing it off-site, but they realise a new home is necessary.

She added: "We are having to turn away around two tonnes of furniture each week as we simply don't have the space, but the new site we are going for would be about five times bigger. The people of Glasgow have always been particularly generous and the donations of furniture and household items keep coming in. As soon as we receive it, our delivery drivers load up the vans and they are heading out on the road.

"We did think storage would be the answer, then realised that did not make much sense – it is new premises we need."

Starter Packs, which recently received an award of £9000 from the Gannett Foundation – the charitable arm of the Evening Times' parent company, moved in to their new site two years ago. Their storage rooms have shelves filled with household items and goods waiting to be taken to people who find themselves setting up in a new tenancy after being homeless.

As well as furniture, people receive a Starter Packs which is filled with household items from cleaning products, to bedding, and crockery.

Housing associations refer the clients to Starter Packs who respond with items which some people could not otherwise afford. Referral figures have increased this year and it looks like they might reach 2200 cases this year compared to 1700 in 2010.

Sarah added: "Our phones are constantly ringing and e-mails coming in with referrals. We are sitting at 1900 for this year and judging by the orders which need to go out before Christmas there will be a few more hundred people we need to reach."

The charity's emblem has always been the Magpie and their Govan thrift store is called the Magpie's Nest. They even have a name for the new unit Two for Joy continuing their magpie theme.

"Being seen as someone who needs help to start in life again as they have a new home shouldn't be seen as depressing, but as a joyful time," added Sarah.

"That's why we came up with the name Two for Joy as we see what we do as thing to be happy about."

The funds have already been given a kick start after the charity received a £10,000 donation from the Bank of Scotland's charitable trust.

Sarah said: "We were delighted to get our fundraising off to such a good start and found it a little ironic that our first donation was from a bank in this current climate.

"We will be throwing everything at this and every funding route there is we will do down. This is something which has to happen as we are dealing with more and more families and people in need every single year."

deborah.anderson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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