Foot Anstey’s small gesture with a big community impact

A Good Thing is an online platform that allows businesses to give things away to their local charities. Less to landfill, more to a good cause! The case study below is an example of the wonderful impact that can be made through these matches.

Donor: Foot Anstey
Location: Southampton
What was donated: 10 chairs
Sector: Law
Charity that benefitted:
St. Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School
Communicare in Southampton

Southampton-based law firm Foot Anstey continues to demonstrate its commitment to responsible business practices, particularly around sustainability. With ambitions to reach net zero before 2050 and send zero waste to landfill, the firm consistently looks for ways to ensure surplus items are reused rather than disposed of.

Foot Anstey has a strong track record of donating pre-loved office items through the A Good Thing platform – from microwaves and desks to even two treadmill desks. The firm’s latest contribution was a set of five stackable meeting chairs and five office chairs on wheels, and Assistant Services Manager Kathi Aggett shared how seamlessly the donations were put into motion:

“We uploaded five office chairs and five meeting room chairs we no longer needed. Within a few hours, two charities were already confirming pick-ups.”

One of the charities was already familiar with the firm, having previously received a donated fridge – a great example of the ongoing relationships built through thoughtful giving.

Supporting local schools through surplus

The five office chairs found a new home with the Swithun Wells School Activities Fund, which supports St. Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School in Hampshire. The school has a strong community ethos, regularly running fundraisers and engaging with local care homes.

With rising costs putting pressure on school budgets, the arrival of the office chairs was perfectly timed. Lisa, representing the charity, shared that the chairs would be used to replace broken ones, ensuring pupils can continue learning comfortably.

Comfort and connection in Southampton

The stackable chairs stayed close to home, heading to Communicare in Southampton, a charity offering support to older members of the community. Its services range from transport to companionship, and the donated chairs have already enhanced seating at group meetings, helping participants feel more at ease.

Kathi from Foot Anstey summed up perfectly the value of donating:

“Donations turn something that’s no longer needed into something valuable for someone else. They help build connections, reduce waste and support communities. Donating is a small gesture that can have a big impact, and it also means we don’t have to look into disposing of things.”

A win for sustainability and community

Foot Anstey’s latest donation is another example of how simple actions can create meaningful change. By rehoming unused furniture, the firm not only reduced waste but also supported two local charities, strengthening community ties in the process.

This case highlights how organisations can make sustainability tangible – one small gesture at a time.