The HomeKIT team would like to thank you all for your fabulous support over the past year and we are pleased to say that 2025 has been the most productive year to date! We have reached our five year milestone, which gives us the opportunity to look back, reflect and applaud all of us who make this project such a success.
Over the past five years HomeKIT has grown and grown, not only with the increased numbers of small electrical appliances being donated and HomeKit volunteers; but most importantly the impact we are having on our community by supporting those most in need.
When HomeKIT started in 2020, you donated 32 items and we distributed 28 items. We had one dedicated volunteer.
From March to October 2025 you donated 251 items (amazing) and we have distributed 210 items. And, we now have three dedicated volunteers.
The flourishing reputation of HomeKIT and what we offer has naturally spread over the years and we are now working with a wonderfully diverse range of local charities and organisations. For example Julian House, Bath Welcomes Refugees, BANES, Southside Family Project, and The Genesis Trust. And, each week our current stock list reaches 71 professionals, who then pass this onto the people they are supporting.
Another exciting development to the service we offer was the introduction of the cargo bike delivery service to our local partner charities (within the city centre) last year. This has been very successful, helping those professionals who struggled trying to fit in collecting their requested items due to time constraints. And in turn this has benefited HomeKIT by boosting our reputation even more, alongside increasing the number of requests for donated items.
Understandably, the number of requests we are able to fulfil each week depends on how much available stock we have, but as an example, over the past 4 weeks 51 donated items were PAT tested, cleaned, and logged onto the HomeKIT database and 32 requests were processed, which involved 53 items being distributed.
Tanya, one of the HomeKIT volunteers recently processed a request for one of our local partner charities. The Charity asked for a TV, kettle, 2 lamps, toaster, radio, heater and a slow-cooker. Tanya said “It is such a wonderful feeling knowing we have just basically set someone up with all these small electrical appliances…. It feels like Christmas!”
Our continued success is all thanks to you. Without your kind donations HomeKIT would not exist, and the beauty of this project is that instead of your item going into landfill, you know we will pass your pre-loved item to someone who really needs it. So please keep giving, so we can keep distributing, and together we will make a difference.
And finally, the HomeKIT team would like to wish you a very happy festive holiday, with friends and loved ones.
Thank you to our HomeKIT volunteer Tanya for writing this article.
