Our History

2008

Quigy's Kitchen opened at The Rainbow Centre - community cafe offering lunches and catering facilities.

Re-use and Recycling Project streamlined to focus on furniture and electrical appliance re-use - relocated to Latton Bush Busines Centre.

2007

The Rainbow Young Bus was launched offering outreach play facilities around Harlow.

2006

Registered office move to bigger premises in Wych Elm to operate a Resource Centre to offer support to other voluntary and community based organisations.

2005

The Furniture and Clothing Project merged with the Recycling Workshop and Outreach Project to house all re-use and recycling services under one roof.

2004

In 2004 Volunteer Development Project launched.

2003

In 2003 the Outreach Project was launched using specially commissioned electric vehicles to undertake kerb side and community collections of re-use materials.

2001

In early 2001 the workshop premises in Prentice Place was opened. This also housed Community Re>paint and aluminium recycling.

1999

In 1999 services became independent of HCVS and RAINBOW SERVICES HARLOW was born as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

1997

In 1997 both re-use projects moved to shop premises in Slacksbury Hatch Harlow.

1993

In 1993 all three projects were linked within HCVS to become “Direct Services.”

1992

In 1992 a Clothing Store was opened to run alongside the Furniture Project and its aim was to redistribute clothing, bedding and household linen.

1980s

During the 1980s the Rainbow Rooms opened in the Latton Bush Centre as a complimentary service to the local Playbus.
Shortly afterwards a Community Furniture Project was developed to redistribute unwanted furniture and household effects to disadvantaged people within the local community.Both of these projects were services of HCVS (Harlow Centre for Voluntary Support).

updated 9th April 2008