Stella’s Voice is a UK-registered charity that works to protect children and young people in vulnerable situations by offering safe homes, education and long-term support. They partner with a range of local and regional stakeholders, including local authorities, housing associations, social services and charities, to provide for people in extreme poverty or hardship with material goods, including furniture and mattresses.
Stella’s Voice established their mattress cleaning project in 2025, with the aim of transforming what would have been landfill waste into safe, high-quality reusable items and maximising the use of donated bedframes and mattresses. The initiative is supported by the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund and through various partnerships. For instance, they partner with Aberdeenshire Council which collects used mattresses at their household recycling centres and deliver it to Stella's Voice. The council’s Homeless Service in turn orders reuse items, including mattresses, from Stella’s Voice to furnish temporary housing for people. The remaining mattresses are distributed through Stella’s Voice’s reuse shops, where profits are reinvested into the former’s humanitarian projects.
Stella’s Voice also creates placement opportunities for people who are distant from the labour market, helping them gain valuable work experience, develop new skills, and move towards long-term, stable employment. This includes individuals who are preparing for release from prison as well as individuals with special needs.
Read more about Stella Voice and their mattress cleaning project in our full report on Social Enterprises’ Role in Furniture and Mattress Circularity here.
