Good things, passed on — and the people who pass them
StillUseful is a circular economy project for the West Midlands, run under the registered charity status of Nissi Homes. We collect what would otherwise be thrown away, put it right, and get it to someone who needs it — without making them prove they deserve it.
We reply to every enquiry within 2 working days.
How it started
It began with a house fire in Handsworth. A family lost almost everything overnight, and within a week neighbours had offered more furniture than the family could use. The problem was never generosity — it was logistics. Nobody had a van, a place to store things, or a way to check that a donated cooker actually worked.
So we borrowed a van. Then we borrowed a garage. Then, when the garage stopped closing, we took on a unit on Heath Mill Lane and started doing it properly: intake photos, testing, repair, honest listings, and a reference number so donors could see where their sofa ended up.
Three years on, the same principle runs the whole operation. An item that still works should not become waste, and a person who needs it should not have to fill in four forms and explain their circumstances to a stranger to get it.
What we hold to
Dignity before paperwork
Most items need nothing more than a short self-declaration. We ask for proof only where demand genuinely outstrips supply, and never for a kettle.
Repair, then rehome
Nothing leaves the workshop untested. Every mains item is PAT-tested, every laptop wiped and burn-in tested, every listing written honestly, scuffs included.
Keep it local
Items collected in the West Midlands stay in the West Midlands. Short journeys, lower emissions, and a neighbour rather than a stranger at the other end.
Work, not just goods
The workshop doubles as a training floor. Volunteers build repair, logistics and customer experience — and leave with a reference that means something.
The road so far
- 2023
A garage and a borrowed van
Two families rehousing after a fire, and a garage full of furniture friends had spare. The first twelve items moved in a single weekend.
- 2024
The Heath Mill Lane workshop
Volume outgrew goodwill. We took on a unit in Birmingham, added a testing bench, and started logging every item properly.
- 2025
Businesses join in
The first office refit came through — 40 desks and 12 monitors. The impact receipt we wrote for it became a standard part of what we offer.
- 2026
Quietly, and referral partners
Support workers now refer directly, and neighbours can nominate a household anonymously so nobody has to ask for themselves.
Take part
Donate something usable, request what you need, or see what refurbishment actually looks like.