In 1986 a small group of people here at Moortown began giving away unwanted furniture to people in need. This year the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store, now a registered charity based in a 10,000 sq ft warehouse in Seacroft, aims to deliver over four thousand separate items of donated furniture to more than a thousand individuals and families. And the man charged with meeting this target is the Furniture Store’s new general manager MBC member John Gamson.

“As a member of Moortown Baptist Church,” says John “I have followed the development of the Furniture Store for a long, long time. That’s why being asked to manage the charity is more to me than just a job, it’s a privilege and a very real challenge.”

However, as a newcomer to working in the charity sector John realises he faces a very steep learning curve: “It’s sad but true,” he says, “that in a city like Leeds there is still such a huge demand for our services. I know I have a lot to learn but we have a great team here and provided the public keep donating their unwanted furniture we will do all we can to meet that need.”

The charity’s Chair, MBC member John Sherbourne added: “I’m delighted that John Gamson has agreed to lead the Store into its next stage. On the face of it what we do – collect furniture and give it away to someone who doesn’t have any – seems the easiest thing in the world. However, with so many rules and regulations to get to grips with and with funding always so hard to come by John has taken on a truly enormous challenge.”

If you live anywhere in the Leeds Metropolitan District Council area and you have unwanted furniture you would like the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store to collect then ring 0113 2739727 or email

More information on the LMFS is here