Jemma

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬. ⁠

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The Jemma rug is named after an alias chosen by a Furnishing Futures beneficiary. Every design is paired with a personal reflection from its namesake, sharing how receiving a healing home has helped restore confidence, safety and dignity…

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“My life before was scary, exhausting, lonely and I didn’t feel like it was worth living. Trying to break the cycle and leave someone who is a bully was very difficult, especially having a daughter. When I finally did, it was like I walked into another hell. I found it very difficult to get somewhere to stay even for the night to keep me and my daughter safe.

After a long battle, I was given temporary accommodation and eventually after many emails and standing up for myself I got a one bedroom council flat. When I finally thought “this is it, we have a home!” I was left heartbroken as I walked in and there was nothing!  It was a shell and nothing like home.

There were so many thoughts running through my head: how can I cook my daughter food, how can I wash her clothes, where is she going to sleep? Then you came and it felt like a guardian angel. Furnishing Futures changed my life in more ways than you can imagine… You made me feel like I had made it and all the struggle and the hardship was worth it.

You made me feel like it was going to be okay. What you have done for me and my daughter I will forever be grateful for. My daughter can actually lie in her own bed and feel safe, feel warm and be able to be a child.”

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