Toogoodtowaste really does make a difference to people's lives; Not only to our customers in Rhondda Cynon Taf, but the causes we support and to our staff too. Here you can see the real life stories from our charity.

Hi my name is Nick and I was a volunteer at Toogoodtowaste.

I joined TGTW in January 2006. I wanted to be a mechanic and was referred by A4E in Porth as a work based placement. They interviewed me and asked what career path I wanted to pursue and I said "A mechanic"

They informed me that they couldn't offer me a placement doing that but could place me in TGTW within the warehouse, which I did for 6 months.

Before I joined TGTW I had been unemployed for 7 months after leaving school with only a few GCSEs with poor grades.

During my first 6 months I slowly gained my confidence; Mixed with other people from a variety of backgrounds and found I was able to communicate with others much more easily. This was when my real personality flourished.

Through my time at TGTW I gained experience in many ways; I went out on the delivery van and assisted in the delivery and collection of furniture to customers, it was there that I realised how my actions could help and assist others who are less fortunate than me.

Once the placement ended I decided that I wanted to be a volunteer. I wanted to continue to help others and increase my own self-development. I really wanted to be out on the delivery van, that's where I got to see lots of customers. I worked as a van delivery assistant for another 6 months and was then promoted to van supervisor; This meant that I was supervising others, a great achievement, even though I say it myself!

Supporting others is so rewarding. TGTW has a mix of people, all with different learning and understanding abilities. It's like having an extended family, all supporting each other.

I have now left TGTW and became a support worker; I have passed my driving test and travel daily to Cardiff to work- From volunteer to paid employment! Now I get to support people everyday and what a feeling that is. I can now help to support and shape people's futures and all that training that I learnt from Too Good To Waste.

Angela's Story

At the age of 24, Angela Spiteri started working for Toogoodtowaste as Marketing Co-ordinator. The good that the charity did - especially in helping a young homeless girl in real need- showed Angela the difference that her work and the charity's was doing in the community. So inspired she was Angela made a video which is featured on the BBC Wales Arts website. You can watch Angela's inspiring video by clicking here