Community Wood Recycling Special Report 2024
Contributing to our communities
Every year we survey our members to find out more about their work. For this year’s report we are focussing on how timber donations from our projects benefit people and organisations, and how we are turning waste into hope.
All over the country social enterprises in our network are working with local communities to build a better, greener world, and to use reclaimed wood to benefit good causes from youth groups to animal sanctuaries.
Reseiclo
Improving life for the people of Newport
Our South Wales wood recyclers Reseiclo empower people with learning disabilities to help their local community. Here is one of the team who has helped to fit handrails for an elderly local resident.
Mid Sussex Wood Recycling
Supporting horticultural therapy
Sussex-based charity Garden Army provides horticultural therapy to ex-service people suffering from PTSD, and to anyone else facing challenges in life who can benefit from working to grow things in a supportive environment. Mid Sussex Wood Recycling is a key supporter of the project, donating rescued timber to help create their therapeutic farm and kitchen garden.
Wiltshire Wood Recycling
Empowering young environmentalists
Wiltshire Wood Recycling has been supporting Early Earth Protectors for ten years. This Chippenham-based group for children who are passionate about the environment offers activities from litter picking to water testing and is developing a youth community garden. Children learn about wildlife and biodiversity and can take part in campaigning activities.
This summer the group attended local festivals including Womad and Shambala. They created a children’s speakers’ corner to allow children to talk to people about their vision for a greener future and handed out wildflower seeds. Wiltshire Wood recycling donated more than 100 pieces of reclaimed timber which children painted with hearts as part of the BLUE campaign to rewild the country’s gardens.
Roots Timber Reuse
Creating homes for rescued animals
Roots Timber Reuse CIC is a community interest company based in Ash which provides waste wood collection services to the Dartford, Gravesham and Medway areas. Some of the timber they collected was donated to the local animal sanctuary, Second Chance Animal Rescue to make shelters and enclosures, and to build fencing to keep the animals secure. Roots also donate to prisons and local charity groups.
Anglian Upcycling
Working with canine therapists
Anglian Upcycling in Suffolk works with The Dogs Squad CIC, a social enterprise that provides high quality dog care while allowing children and young people and adults with learning disabilities, autism and low mental health to benefit from canine therapy by helping to care for the dogs or just being around them. Here’s what the tutor of one the participants said:-
“It’s very unusual for him to be so calm and engaged for such a long period of time and it’s a testament to the wonderful environment you have created that he was able to relax and enjoy himself so much”.