Measuring the Impact of Furnishing Futures’ Work with Survivors of Domestic Abuse

The Assignment

Furnishing Futures, a domestic abuse charity founded by Emily Wheeler in 2021, transforms empty social housing into trauma-informed fully furnished homes for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. To support and evidence its significant and growing impact across London, the charity required a robust and independent Impact Report to evidence its impact, outcomes, strengthen fundraising, and demonstrate value-for-money to funders, local authorities, and corporate partners.

The report needed to quantify the charity’s economic and environmental benefits, and evidence the social value — from reducing furniture poverty and carbon emissions to improving wellbeing, recovery, and inclusion for women and children rebuilding their lives after abuse.

The Role

31ten was commissioned on a pro-bono basis to design and deliver the 2024/25 Furnishing Futures Impact Report, building a clear and credible evidence base using recognised evaluation frameworks and participatory research methods.

Our approach combined:

Co-production and engagement: We worked closely with Furnishing Futures’ founder and staff, and gathered evidence from beneficiaries, volunteers and partners to ensure the report reflected lived experience and authentic impact. Survivors’ voices were embedded throughout via anonymised testimonials, anecdotal information shared via staff, and information gathered through the Furnishing Futures Service User Advisory Board.
Social Value Framework design: We mapped Furnishing Futures’ activity against recognised impact domains — economic contribution, wellbeing and mental health, and environmental sustainability.
Mixed-method data analysis: We brought together quantitative data (homes furnished, CO₂ saved, financial value leveraged, number of families supported) with rich qualitative case studies, enabling a holistic picture of social impact and multiplier effects.
Environmental and economic valuation: We applied Reuse Network and proxy valuation metrics to estimate £ value created, resource savings, and environmental benefit — evidencing that for every £1 of funding received for refuge projects, approximately £2.50 of social value was generated.
Accessible and visual reporting: 31ten designed a visual, publication-ready report showcasing outcomes, learning and growth plans in a clear, narrative-driven format suitable for public, funder, and partner audiences.

Key Outcomes

The resulting Impact Report 2024/25 provides Furnishing Futures with its most comprehensive analysis to date, evidencing the charity’s significant impact:

67 women and 123 children supported across multiple London boroughs.
47 trauma-informed homes and four women’s refuges transformed.
29,557 kg of furniture saved from landfill – the equivalent of 27.6 tons of CO₂ avoided.
£735,500 income leveraged and a project multiplier of 246%.
Strong partnerships with Peabody, Clarion, Kiran Support Services, and Solace Women’s Aid.

The report can now form a cornerstone of the charity’s advocacy and fundraising work — helping it to demonstrate tangible outcomes, attract new partners, and influence housing and domestic abuse policy.