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Press Release
March 2006 - Defra - Choose 2 be a Local Champion
The regional 'Choose2Reuse' campaign gives you the chance to become a Local Reuse Champion.
A 'Reuse Champion' is somebody who wants to give their time, energy and expertise to benefit a local charity or community group by promoting 'reuse' and undertaking one or more 'reuse activities'.
Charity shops and community groups rely on the support from enthusiastic volunteers to carry out their activities. It is estimated that every week over 110,000 volunteers give their time, energy and expertise at charity shops, and helped to raise around £100 million in the UK last year. However, new volunteers are always needed to help them raise even more funds and support the charitable work of the organisations.
The Reuse Champion initiative is part of the Choose2Reuse campaign funded by a Defra Environment Action Fund grant. The campaign aims to increase the donation of good quality items to charities and community groups as well as the purchase of pre-owned goods to close the loop in the consumption chain.
Environment Minister, Elliot Morley encouraged people to take part in this very positive scheme:
"Sustainable development is about equity. Volunteering is a great way of putting in practice this principle by sharing some of our time with those who need it".
"I am delighted to endorse this scheme and would like to see many champions rising as a result. People interested in becoming a Reuse Champion will be able to become involved through contacting their nearest participating charity".
Activities are wide ranging from helping in the shop, handing out leaflets to organising a collection at your place of work. No matter how old you are, what your interests may be or the experience that you have, there is some type of activity to suit you.
Notes to Editors:
For further information please contact Susanne Baker at defra on 020 7238 5391 or e-mail her susanne.baker@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
For more information about the Choose2Reuse campaign, contact Nikki DiGiovanni, Project Manager for Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network on 01354 742300 or email nikki@ccorrn.org.uk.
Fact file:
- The Choose2Reuse campaign is being part- funded by a Defra Environmental Action Fund grant of £111,000 over three years and is being delivered by the Association of Charity Shops in partnership with the Cambridgeshire and Essex Community Reuse and Recycling Network's (CCORRN & ECORRN)
- Choose2Reuse was created by CCORRN in 2004 and it has already been acknowledged for environmental best practice by winning a Green Apple Award.
- The Environmental Action Fund (EAF) helps voluntary groups in England promote sustainable development through projects on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). For more information on the fund, including other funded projects see: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/eaf/index.htm.
- The launch of the campaign through the charity shops took place in January 2006 with 40 participating charities covering over 500 charity shops. List of charities is below.
- The 7 counties covered by the campaign are Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Northamptonshire.
| Age Concern England | (16) | |
| Age Concern Milton Keynes | (6) | |
| Age Concern Suffolk | (7) | |
| Arthur Rank Hospice Charity | (1) | |
| Barnardo's | (36) | |
| Branching Out | (1) | |
| BREAK | (23) | |
| British Heart Foundation | (37) | |
| Cancer Research UK | (72) | |
| Compass (Peterborough) Ltd. | (5) | |
| East Anglia's Children's Hospice | (7) | |
| Farleigh Hospice | (9) | |
| Hamelin Trust | (5) | |
| Haven House Foundation | (4) | |
| Havens Christian Hospice | (10) | |
| Help the Aged | (26) | |
| Lady McAdden Breast Unit Shop | (1) | |
| Minds Matter | (14) | |
| Newmarket Open Door | (1) | |
| Northampton Association for the Blind | (1) | |
| Oxfam | (10) | |
| Pasque Charity | (10) | |
| RSPCA Norwich & Mid-Norfolk | (3) | |
| Save the Children UK | (9) | |
| SCOPE | (26) | |
| Shelter | (3) | |
| Splinters (of St. Elizabeth) | (1) | |
| St. Elizabeth's Centre | (2) | |
| St. Elizabeth Hospice | (8) | |
| St. Helena's Hospice | (8) | |
| St. Luke's Hospice Trading Ltd. | (8) | |
| St. Nicholas' Hospice | (4) | |
| Sue Ryder Care | (71) | |
| The Big 'C' | (2) | |
| The Children's Society | (13) | |
| The Home Farm Trust | (3) | |
| The Hospice of St. Francis | (1) | |
| The Peace Hospice | (7) | |
| The Salvation Army (Anglia Division) | (24) | |
| YMCA England | (8) | |
| Total no. of participating shops | (503) | |
| Total no. of participating charities | (40) |
Defra's aim is sustainable development
