Furnishing Futures is a London-based charity that creates fully furnished, trauma-informed homes for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse and are transitioning from refuges or temporary accommodation into permanent housing. Founded by interior designer and former social worker Emily Wheeler, the organisation works at the intersection of design, care, and social justice.
Collaborate with local councils, housing associations, and support services to identify families in need.
Source high-quality donated furniture and homewares from interior brands and the design industry.
Professionally design and install interiors that prioritise comfort, dignity, and healing.
Volunteer designers may assist with installations or creative direction.
Often include soft lighting, warm colour palettes, natural textures, and custom touches.
Snug Architects, a UK-based architectural firm, designed Hope Street in Southampton—a trauma-informed residential community for women and their children who have been involved in the justice system. Developed with One Small Thing (a charity founded by Lady Edwina Grosvenor), the project pioneers a new, restorative approach to women’s justice, providing an alternative to prison through supportive, healing environments.
Designed Hope Street around trauma-informed principles: safety, autonomy, dignity, and empowerment.
Used co-design with women with lived experience of trauma and the justice system.
Created a residential complex that includes private bedrooms, communal kitchens, therapy spaces, gardens, and support services.
Emphasised natural light, calming materials, and spatial layouts that support emotional well-being.