Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa has teamed up with the Japanese tool company Ryobi, as well as the charity Central Aid, to help people who are living in substandard conditions.

The manufacture’s campaign, ‘Re-Build’, as well as help from Central Aid, which is based in High Wycombe, will support those in need by sourcing much needed furniture and household fittings to improve the lives of people in the area.

According to research from Ryobi, results have found that the condition of housing is having a ‘negative impact’ on family dynamics, social lives and personal wellbeing.

Currently, over a third of people in the UK (35 per cent) admit they would be embarrassed if visitors were to see the current state of their home.

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But for significant proportion of the population, dissatisfaction with living conditions goes beyond embarrassment, 20 per cent report it has led to a decline in their mental health.

In the South East, figures revealed that 33 per cent of respondents said they would be embarrassed for people to see their house, and 21 per cent suggested it did indeed impact their mental health.

Stuart Allen, who is the general manager at Central Aid said: “Furniture poverty is a constant and in many cases hidden issue.

“We have been working in High Wycombe since 1906 and we work tirelessly every day to support people who often find themselves in housing where they have almost no furniture at all, but in all honesty, we can never do enough.

“I can’t encourage people enough not to throw out their unwanted furniture as there are so many people who need exactly the type of furniture that so often gets discarded – we’re here every day to take it in and get it to people in need.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Ryobi on this campaign and hope that it really does raise awareness about this issue, both in High Wycombe and beyond.”

Following this, the Re-Build campaign was created to tackle this problem, but reclaiming unwanted items of furniture and household fittings, refurbishes them using Ryobi’s DIY skills and tools, and use Central Aid’s local network to redistribute them to those most in need.

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Bill Neill, General Manager Ryobi UK said: “Covid-19 has been so difficult for everyone.

“But it’s a sad reality some have had it tougher than others. In a period when many have suffered poor health, bereavement and job loss, we’ve also spent more time at home than ever before.

“Struggling in poor living conditions too can have an incredibly detrimental impact on overall quality of life.

“Working with our partners at Central Aid, we hope to have a real impact in addressing this hidden crisis, which is a major issue in High Wycombe as it is across so much of the UK.”