The NCWRP and the community wood recycling social enterprises that we help to set up and develop are committed to making as big a contribution as possible to environmental improvement and social justice.
Quite simply, we are in the business of saving resources and creating work and training for local people.
This chart shows how much waste wood in tonnes was collected and reused or recycled by community wood recyclers during 2009. Most of the collected material would have ended up in landfill or at best being “downcycled” into woodchip. (figures are based on monthly returns provided by each enterprise)
By measuring the tonnes of wood we rescue (much of which would have ended up in landfill) and the number of days of voluntary work and training we give to disadvantaged people, we can start to understand what impact we are having. Such information is essential to our funders who want to be sure their investment in us is worthwhile. But more importantly, it really motivates everyone involved with community wood recycling; all of us at the NCWRP, our social entrepreneurs and their tireless team of staff and volunteers that are working day in and day out to collect, reuse and recycle waste wood are really encouraged by it.
Of course, what these charts do not show is the more qualitative benefits that community wood recyclers bring – such as helping to change the attitude of the construction sector towards waste reduction, reuse and recycling as a whole; the exposure to broader issues around sustainability that members of the public get when they come in to an enterprise and buy that recycled wood, and the increase in the quality of life that many people experience as a result of gaining confidence and self-esteem by working in a wood recycling social enterprise (for an insight into this, please read the case study below).
The chart below shows the amount of working and training days given by wood recycling enterprises during 2009. The people who benefit most from this work are local disadvantaged people. Many are highly capable and reliable and want to work - but they are often excluded from the labour market because of some “baggage”. (figures are based on monthly returns provided by each enterprise)
Case study: A community wood recycling success story by the NCWRP and Aspire Foundation 'Real Work' Training Scheme.
Profile of - 'John ' (name changed to protect anonymity) who worked at the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project between April 2008 and February 2009.
John is a 26 year old man living in Brighton with his girlfriend and new-born baby. He is a very capable person who had spent four years as a carpenters’ mate when he was younger.
Outside of work, John has been a heavy drinker since he was 16 years old. When he was 22 he moved to Brighton and started taking heroin. He soon became addicted. His life became chaotic and he received a criminal record for assault due to a fight he had with his girlfriend. His health deteriorated and he couldn't hold down a job. He then started hanging out with a group who would all take drugs together and sleep rough. John got out of sleeping rough with the help of the council's rough sleepers team. He moved in to a couple of hostels and was living on incapacity benefit.
In 2007 John's girlfriend became pregnant and this was the spark that led him to want to get his life back on track and start working again. They moved in to Local Authority housing and he started looking for carpentry courses that would enable him to get back to his passion for working with wood. Because of his background and lack of recent work experience, he had no success trying to find a job or college carpentry course. He was told about the 'Real Work' training scheme running at the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project and applied for a place. He began his 13 week placement at the end of October 2008.
He initially had trouble with timekeeping and was quite often late to work in the mornings. He seemed to have trouble adapting to the formalities of work and the need to work in a team. But over the weeks he settled and the quality of his work was getting better all the time. Slowly, slowly he started to thrive – he even and started to supervise other volunteers and teach them new skills. But one month in, was a troubling time when he feared he was slipping back in patterns of negative behaviour. He missed work for a few days without phoning in and it was feared that he might have relapsed again. Fortunately the absence was only temporary and he came back to work and finished the 13 week placement with flying colours.
He was at a point when he was able to consider getting a job again and luckily, managed to secure some carpentry work with a carpenter customer of the enterprise. Both had a dislike of early mornings because of their parental responsibilities, yet were happy to work late until the job was finished. Working with the carpenter provided John with his ideal working conditions and both embarked on a three day trial to ensure they were able to work together - and it was a great success.
After this trial, the carpenter decided to formally hire John on a part time basis; if business continues to grow, the longer term intention is for John to go on a proper carpentry apprenticeship and work full time. John still stays in touch with the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project and volunteers for them when he has time. The placement was a success all round; when asked about John his boss said “He's got bags of enthusiasm, is willing to help and has a very positive attitude. He just needs a bit of guidance and structure in how he does things.”
John said, “It was great to work at the Project and I was so lucky that they helped me to find a part time job. It was an enjoyable 13 weeks. It made me want to get out of bed in the morning.”
