SLATE was set up to run environmentally friendly businesses for the benefit of the local community, and offer work opportunities to people with learning difficulties.

We are a social enterprise, which means that we want to cover our costs from our trading activities and not rely on grant funding. If we have any money left over after paying transport costs and salaries, it will be re-invested in the business.

Our first business is The Feel Good Furniture Shop, where we collect people’s unwanted furniture and sell it at affordable prices. Most of our customers are local people from South Leeds, many of them on low incomes. But we are open to the public and we are equally happy to provide props for local historical and theatrical groups! We have even helped to furnish a restaurant.

We provide a friendly service. Many people come in each week or fortnight to see what’s new and to chat to our volunteers.

Our staff team includes a number of volunteers with and without learning difficulties who like being in the workplace and making a contribution to the business. They help keep the shop clean and tidy and go out on the van to help with deliveries and collections.

If you would like to work as a volunteer alongside people with learning difficulties, please do get in touch. We are always on the look-out for people to staff the shop, to help with marketing, to be creative, to join the team! And we do have a couple of vacancies on the board – anyone with legal skills is especially welcome.