Online auction raises over £12,500 for industry charity

A month-long online auction organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, has raised over £12,500.

The auction ran from Monday 13 July to Friday 7 August 2020 and was hosted on the National Funding Scheme’s fundraising platform, Donate. Around 40 lots were on sale with items including pieces of art, tickets to Chelsea Flower Show, limited edition prints, a four-day chair making course, a night in a five-star London hotel with dinner and a golf day experience.

Different to a traditional auction, the Donate system allowed buyers to quickly make bids via their computer or mobile, which resulted in a fast and furious final few hours with lots of quick-fire offers being made right up to the wire by those wishing to secure one of the fantastic auction lots.

The online auction – the first of its kind for the charity ­- was organised to mitigate the shortfall in funds the organisation faces following the cancellation of its well-attended summer fundraisers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Woodward, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “My sincere thanks to everyone who donated such fantastic lots for our first and very successful online auction. Our donors were: Abinger Cookery School, Achieve+Partners, Artistic Upholstery, Axminster Tools & Machinery, Bisley, Burbidge & Sons Kitchen Makers, Catfoot Designs, David Dewing OBE, David Wyndham Lewis, Designer Contracts, Ercol, Häfele UK Ltd, Harrison Spinks, HIPPO, Hypnos, Jay & Co, John Makepeace OBE, Jonny Westbrooke, KI Europe, Margaret Miller, Momentum Contract Furniture, Morgan Furniture, Nathan Furniture, Ocee Design, Panaz, Prima Foam, Race Furniture, Reallyverynice Gallery, Sarah Kay, Stephanie Reeves, The Landmark London, Whitemeadow and Wood Workers Workshop.

“Thank you to everyone who placed bids and my congratulations to those who secured the lot of their choice, I hope you enjoy them. By taking part you have made a significant difference as all the money raised will go towards our Personal Support Grants, helping us to support even more of our industry colleagues who have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic.

“Applications are expected to rise significantly as the furlough scheme is wound down and because of the generosity of our members and friends we will be on hand to help. Thank you all and please look out for future events that you may enjoy.”