The new facility will enable NOAH to expand both the quantity and variety of furniture and domestic appliances undergoing restoration and refurbishment. Refurbishment works include essential maintenance works and the creation of workshop, testing and storage areas.

This project is the result of a partnership between NOAH and Luton Borough Council and funding support from the Big Lottery Fund‘s Community Recycling and Economic Development Programme (CRED) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The NOAH project will introduce a Street Outreach service to Luton in order to proactively engage with people in acute need. NOAH's Support Workers will then identify the most excluded adults in Luton and help them engage with services to address all their needs such as substance misuse, housing and employment.

The ACE Programme is designed to test new approaches to tacking chronic social exclusion amongst the most marginalised people in society. Four Government Departments are sponsoring the programme: Home Office, Communities and Local Government, Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions. NOAH was chosen because of its unique ability to attract and work with socially excluded people others find hard to reach, and was the only project in the East of England to receive support.

Jim O'Connor Chief Executive of NOAH said: "We are delighted at being part of Adult Facing Chronic Exclusion (ACE) programme. We have seen how the approach of NOAH can help people to regain strength and self-confidence, attain essential skills and successfully turn their lives around. This opportunity will allow us build on our success, reach out to even more people in the community and help them to engage with the range of services we offer."

Visit the ACE Programme website for further information.