Unsold items from charity shops collected for recycling
The criminal justice aspect of social care is often forgotten, but it can provide an extra helping hand to the local community.
The South West criminal justice team, in partnership with environmental charity Changeworks (formerly LEEP), started a recycling initiative a few months ago and since then has seen huge successes.
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It’s a simple idea.
The team uses its clients, who have been given community service for misdemeanours, to collect waste from charity shops. They then weigh and sort it for recycling.
Every year charities are lumbered with piles of goods that are donated but simply won’t sell.
They then have to part with precious funds for the disposal of these items in landfill sites.
Gary Hicks, who supervises one group that picks up the waste, said: “In the 12 years I’ve worked with community service teams, this is one of the best projects I’ve worked on.
“The guys are really interested as they know they’re doing good work for the charity shop and the environment.”
- If you would like to know how the community service programme could help you in the community, contact South West on 0131 442 4131 or North East on 0131 553 3538.