Community scheme to benefit from paint recycling campaign

A social enterprise scheme in Blackburn has received a major boost from Crown Paints.

The ReUse Together Centre was set up 18 months ago to provide a low-cost alternative for furniture, white goods and other household items.

Now the Glenfield Business Park centre has become the latest beneficiary of a community scheme run by Crown Paints, based in nearby Darwen.

Tins are handed in to each Crown Decorating Centre around the country before being reprocessed and donated to community projects in their area.

The centre gives volunteers and apprentices the chance to learn new skills alongside mentors in special craft and sewing clubs.

The project, part of the Together Housing Group, also funds apprenticeships as well as organising work experience and volunteer placements.

“ReUse Together is a community project that gets local people involved in creating low-cost solutions for others in the area. All of the money generated is then put back into running the enterprise and collecting more stock to be sold on. We’ll use the paint for a variety of projects and, because we rely so much on donations, it is very much appreciated.”

“It gives apprentices and volunteers the chance to learn new skills and, because the items they help to produce are sold at low cost back to the community, it seems that everyone’s a winner.