Linda commented during her talk, ‘Charity shop shopping is incredibly fashionable and it is the ultimate in recycling. Items are infinitely more sturdy, durable and unique and I have spotted the most wonderful unit available in the shop today for next to nothing. It is just incredible the amount we throw away and a shop like this on site at an RRC is just wonderful for residents to grab a beautiful item at a really low cost.’ North London Waste Authority (NLWA), in collaboration with LondonWaste Ltd, opened the reuse shop as part of a wider waste prevention programme of work. The shop offers residents the opportunity to get an item they want or need for a fraction of the cost they would do if purchased new. Councillor Clyde Loakes, chair of NLWA, said,“‘I was delighted to officially open the reuse shop with Linda Barker. It is hoped that Second Time Around will encourage the reuse of a range of items and prevent perfectly functioning pieces of furniture, or such like, from ending up in landfill or being recycled. It gives residents the opportunity to also purchase a good quality item for very little too which is always positive.’
As part of the official launch local residents and community groups were invited to take part in an upcycling competition in which they were given an old dining room chair to transform. The results were phenomenal and Linda Barker found it difficult to choose a winner. However, Linda made her decision and awarded the £140’s worth of vouchers to Sue Irwin-Hunt, who, in coming first commented, ‘Every piece of furniture has a story behind it so I came up with the idea of a ‘story telling chair’ which I titled ‘Once Upon a Time.’ Everything on the chair was begged, borrowed or purchased from a charity shop. There are detachable toys and dressing up clothes included in the design which can be used time after time to encourage story telling. I am delighted to have won and I hope to auction the chair with the funds going to a children’s charity.’
Sue’s winning chair is currently on display in the shop until 31 December 2015. The shop was very well received by local residents at the launch event. One local resident Carole Goode from Walthamstow commented, ‘I am delighted that the shop is open and I will be coming here regularly. I have brought some lovely items already including a bowl and a blue table for my grand-children’s arts and crafts activities which cost just £2 – you can’t even buy a pencil case for that!’
