Day Out! (12/08/2010)
We had our annual Volunteers Day out on 6 August 2010! We went to a rather wet Margam Park and a slightly brighter Porthcawl. You can see some of the pictures by clicking here!
Tools needed (09/08/2010)
Toogoodtowaste tries to help as many like minded charities as possible.
Tools For Self Reliance collect old and unwanted hand tools from all over the UK- They clean, repair and send those tools to grass roots community groups to several African countries- Tools mean work, and the chance to shape their future, just as important to a young person in Tanzania or Ghana today as it is in Britain
Toogoodtowaste does it’s best to donate tools to the charity, but they are still in urgent need of more! Here’s a list of what’s needed most:
Carpentry: Blacksmiths Kit: Bicycle Repair:
Carpentry Chisel Anvil Mole-grips
Mortice Chisel Bolt Cutter Foot Pump
Sliding Bevel Flat File Bike track Pump
Corner Clamp Half Round File Slip joint pliers
Hand Drill Round File Adjustable Spanner
Needle File Hand Grinder Stillsons Wrench
G Cramp Sledge Hammer Engineering Pliers
Gouge Pipe Bender
Claw Hammer Pipe Cutter
Mortice Gauge Pipe Vice
Oilstone Tap and die Sets
Block Pane Swage Block
Jack Plane Metal Engineer’s Vice
Smoothing Plane Hand Vice
Plane Blade Leg Vice
Rebate Plane
Plough Plane
Hand Router
Carpenter’s Rasp
Saw File
Sash Cramp
Builder’s Kit: Tinsmith Kit: Leather Work Kit:
Chalk Line Paraffin Blow Lamp Awl
Pins and line Riveting Punch Leather Hammer
Plumb bob Soldering Iron Lasting Pliers
Builder’s tape measure Rotary Hole Punch
Builder’s square Wad Punch
Lump Hammer Tailors Sheers
Breast Drill Steel Rule
Skiving Knife
Mechanic’s Kit:
Electric Drill
Electric Grinder
Screw Jack
Rivet gun
Valve lifter
Chain wrench
Wheel brace
If you have any of these items, in re-useable condition, and would like to donate them, contact us by phone on 01443 680090 and we can arrange a collection or give you more details- We will pass the much needed items on to Tools For Self Reliance Cymru.
New Kit (6/7/2010)
With the changing of our new phone number (01443 680090), we have been delighted to give our staff brand new shirts to wear. Thanks to our sponsor Enivronment Wales, The new green attire, worn by all in our showrooms and our delivery teams, features our distinctive logo on the front and a reminder of our new number and the fact that we are helping to change climate change!!
All the staff at Toogoodtowaste are pleased and very proud to wear the new tops.
Rememer that our number is changing; With 01443 680090 now already in use, and the old number soon to go.
Future Fund - Real Community Benefit (15/6/2010)
When Gavin Wyatt was offered 6 months employemnt under the Future Fund with local charity toogoodtowaste, he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to put his carpentary skills back into good use.
Despite having trained as a carpenter/joiner and having gained experince in site work within a joinery shop, he had been unemployed for nine months before toogoodtowaste offered to take him on within their furniture repair workshop, as part of the government Future Fund Scheme.
At only 20 years of age, Gavin did not see himself as a motivator for other young people but when asked to supervise and train school placements from Tonypandy school, Gavin jumped at the opportunity "It has been difficult to get everyone to love working with wood as much as I do, so when Ross said he needed to replace a back door, I thought; Why not try to make make one!? The timber was part of a slatted bed that was broken, so it was a case of recycling and re-use. Ross was delighted with his new door and fitted it that evening" said Gavin. Click here to see a photo of Gavin, Ross and the door
General manager, Shaun England said: " Gavin has been a great asset to the charity since he joined us in January and we will be sorry when his job ends in July. He is a young man with both practical skills and a willigness to be helpful and supportive to others; it is such a shame that he has not found alternative employment"
Toogoodtowaste is looking for other volunteers that can help throughout their organisation and for donations of re-useable furniture and household items then get in contact by clicking here
You can download the full press release by clicking here
Mayor Visit (14/6/2010)
The First citizen of Rhondda Cynon Taf has commended the work of a charity that has helped over 5,000 households across RCT- Whilst also helping to save the environment - in the last year alone.
Mayor Cllr Simon Lloyd was honoured to attend the recent AGM of toogoodtowaste, a unique organisation that operates in partnership with a number of departments within the local authority, especially the Environmental Services Directorate and Socal Services Child Care.
Toogoodtowaste collects furniture, domestic appliances, textiles and other household items that are still in good condition. These items are then cleaned, sorted and placed on display at their Charity showrooms where anyone can call in and select the items they need. Last year the charity received 71 requests from Social Services and other organisations to help families who had no furniture, or where in crisis situations. The charity was able to provide furniture packages and bedroom packages to assist.
In the last year the charity's two shorooms in Ynyshir and Aberaman redistributed over 16,500 items, helping to supply over 5,000 households with furniture such as beds, storage and sofas. However it was unable to meet the demand for domestic electrical items, despite employing a domestic appliance engineer, due to the shortage of such items being donated.
As well as helping others, the work of toogoodtowaste has also meant that 216 tonnes of goods that would've gone to landfill were re-used last year. Since the charity started in 1995 it has attraced £1.8 million of inward investment through various grant funding and in so doing has sustained the employment of 10 jobs, as well as establishing a re-use and recycling service for the benefit of the community of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Toogoodtowaste provided voluntary placements to some 140 people in the previous 12 months, including young people looking for their first opportunity of work, people returning to work and those who have taken an early retirement - they helped in the call centre, warehouse, retail, transport as well as being on the board of directors. This enabled them to gain skills, experience and confidence, as well as prepare for the future employment.
Mayor Cllr Simon Lloyd said: "It was interesting and rewarding to be able to attend the AGM and hear such good news from the people who work so hard, including volunteers for toogoodtowaste.......Countless families across the county borough have been able to attend the two showrooms and buy, at reasonable prices, high quality, tested furniture and domestic appliances.......I am so proud the council are supporters of this cause and am also inspired by the success toogoodtowaste has achieved when it comes to not only helping others, but helping the environment and bringing in additional funding to the county borough"
CEO of Toogoodtowatse, Lynda Davies added: " We are delighted to see an increase in the number of people who are choosing to re-use and support us by donating items that help benefit this local charity......When people choose to re-use they are making a positive difference to climate change - less to landfill and less new items being made. They are also helping to regenerate their community by supporting local employment, training and experience. It's a win-win situation"
To download the full press release then click here
Electrical Items (18/5/2010)
We are asking residents, housing associations and landlords in Rhondda Cynon Taf, to donate more domestic electrical appliances for re-use, to help others in the county borough and reduce climate change.
EU regulations (WEEE) require retailers to offer their customers a "take-back" scheme when they supply a new appliance, so when you buy a new item, they will take your old one to be recycled. The Local Authority also collects unwanted domestic appliances. "This is a great service if your old machine is beyond repair and ready to be made into scrap metal. But what about those machines that are still working or need a small repair, they can be re-used? What a waste to scrap them!" said Lynda Davies CEO of toogoodtowaste.
Toogoodtowaste has employed a local domestic engineer to test, repair and service electrical items that are donated to be re-used. Last year thousands of appliances were re-supplied to homes throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf. Lynda says "We have a waiting list of customers who need appliances but we are without donations and unable to meet the levels of demand. Buying new appliances is very expensive especially if you need to get them on credit. You can pay an extra 30% or more with some retailers - this pushes more families into debt"
If you have an electrical appliance that yoiu would like to donate then contact us by clicking here
You can download the full press release by clicking here
Great News! (12/5/2010)
Volunteering in Rhondda Cynon Taf gets funding boost from Lloyds TSB foundation.
Local independant charity Toogoodtowaste has recieved £12,000 to support community based volunteering and work based learning at both their Ynyshir and Aberaman charity shops.
The charity collects pre-owned furniture and household goods for re-use within Rhondda Cynon Taf. Items collected are then offered for sale in their showrooms in Ynyshir and Aberaman. The income raised covers 65% of their running costs and supports their Charitable activities- providing furniture packages to local people who are disadvantaged; responding to local emergencies; diverting waste from landfill and supporting volunteering and work based learning.
Last year over 140 people worked with toogoodtowaste on a voluntary basis- in their call centre, shops, warehouse, workshops, transport and as Directors. Volunteers gained skills and increased confidence through team working and work based training. This raised their self esteem, provided certified training and help them secure paid employment.
The Lloyds TSB funding will contribute to the core salary costs of a Volunteer Co-ordinator, over the next 2 years; so that the organisation can continue to support the development and learning of local people and help them pay a fuller role in their community.
For information on current Volunteering opportunities please contact Jennifer Evans, Volunteer co-ordinator on the new number 01443 680090. or email Jevans@toogoodtowaste.co.uk You can download the full press release by clicking here
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