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Early in 2006, local Roadies - Trapper and Ogs - decided it was time to make a living closer to home. The lure of life on tour had faded since they settled into a married family-life in Hastings five years ago. They wanted to do something for themselves, for the community and for the environment. The Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project was born as a result, a social enterprise for which they obtained set-up support from a national free franchise. At the outset, Trapper and Ogs didn’t anticipate what a success this experimental project would be: just over a year since it officially opened in the Britannia Enterprise Centre, it now employs two members of full-time staff to work alongside the ‘volunteer’ directors (Trapper and Ogs), 12 trainees as part of the government ‘New Deal Scheme’ to get long-term unemployed people back to work, and numerous volunteers. The purpose of the Project is three-fold:
They’ve come a long way in just over a year. Trapper explains: “At the start, when people started bringing in bits of old wood, we thought ‘What on earth are we going to do with these?’ Now we’re fitting shop interiors with re-finished Victorian floorboards and making furniture from painted skirting. Nothing need go to waste!” There are contracts with 12 local building companies, who have an arrangement to tell the Wood Project about any waste wood they might be pulling out of local building sites or house-renovations. They then collect it for less than it would cost to put it in a skip, within 48 hours. It’s amazing what can come of something that was headed for landfill: a shop interior for BSA Motorcycle fashion store, a ‘designer’ compost-bin for a local resident, garden benches and a commissioned dining table among many other pieces. James, who started as a trainee on a 13-week course, enjoyed working here so much and proved such a valuable member of staff that he is now a full-time employee. “It’s a great place to work, really lovely people and it’s laid-back, too. I knew nothing about wood-work before I started but I’ve learnt loads, including dealing with customers in the shop and I’m learning to drive.” Trainee Kevin didn’t have any experience of gardening. Now he’s tasked with clearing a large allotment space for an elderly lady. “I love it, it’s really interesting. And in helping out this lady, I get a sense of doing something good.” Mike has been employed since January to manage the trainees. “It’s about building self-confidence and helping people back to work,” he says. “Coming here everyday to work helps them to develop a structure.” 20% of trainees go on to find work, a good result for this kind of programme. Behind the scenes is Karen, married to Ogs, and the one behind the funding applications, accounts and paperwork. She works as a volunteer part-time and it’s obvious that her efforts are firmly behind the venture. “It’s such a diverse Project, there’s something here to suit people from all walks of life. There’s gardening, building, wood-collection, designing furniture, carpentry and staffing the shop, so there’s something for everyone.”
If you’re into woodwork or DIY – looking for some time-worn wood to make raised beds in your
garden, or trying your hand making your own piece of furniture - it’s well worth a look around the wood-store. And if you don’t know your dovetails from your finger-joints, but you like the idea of commissioning a piece of furniture, then the
Hastings and Bexhill Recycling Project is only
too happy to make it for you!
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