A FURNITURE reuse scheme has won a national award.

The County Durham Reuse Forum picked up the Best Partnership Award at the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee’s awards.

The forum involves six reuse schemes across the county and in 2012-13 helped 24,000 households, provided 189 jobs, 210 volunteer placements and 84 work training placements.

The reuse schemes involved are: Kings Church Furniture Reuse, County Durham Furniture Help Scheme, East Durham Partnership, Woodhouse Close Church Furniture Project, Consett YMCA and Haswell Mencap Furniture Enterprise.

Terry Collins, corporate director for neighbourhood services at Durham County Council, said: “This award is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved and recognises the very positive feedback we have received from the public and the fact we have been able to help so many people.”

For further details, visit durham.gov.uk/reuse