Upcycle Birmingham brings new life to Castle Vale
An innovative social enterprise that will help people in need transform their homes with affordable, high quality goods will be launched in the new year.
Plans are well underway for the official opening of Upcycle Birmingham – a furniture recycling business that offers an exciting new way of buying items for the home.
The pioneering project is set to take the city by storm when it opens its doors in Castle Vale, bringing with it a new approach to social and economic generation.
As a social enterprise – a not-for-profit business that trades for social or environmental purposes – Upcycle Birmingham is committed to supporting local people by selling low cost, second hand furniture that has been given a new lease of life.
Project director Judy Tullett said: “We are all very excited about Upcycle Birmingham; it not only brings new life to furniture and homes, but to people and their communities too.
“Upcycle Birmingham will provide employment, training and volunteering opportunities for local people who are looking for work.
“As well as giving residents on the estate the chance to make home improvements that they can really afford, we are also helping them to become more employable by providing access to skills based qualifications.”
Upcycle Birmingham will sell a wide selection of recycled items for the home including tables and chairs, cabinets, beds, sofas, wardrobes, as well as domestic appliances, electrical items and household wares.
A collection service is available and ‘Cherry’ – Upcycle Birmingham’s hard-working delivery and collection van – is guaranteed to become a familiar sight on the Castle Vale estate when the social enterprise goes live in January.
Working from a state-of-the-art training unit and showroom in the OYO Business Park, Park Lane, Castle Vale, the Upcycle Birmingham team will lovingly restore items and prepare them for re-sale. Plans are also in place for the social enterprise to have an Ebay store, enabling people to purchase items online.
An appeal is now underway for donations and items that can be upcycled and resold. These can be collected or delivered to the Upcycle Birmingham unit.
“We are urging people, businesses and even community organisations to take a good look around their homes, offices and centres and think about donating items that they no longer want or need,” said Judy.
“The run up to Christmas is the perfect time to do this and we have a team of people, led by experienced trainers, waiting to inject new life and transform items so they can be re-sold and re-used.
“It is amazing to see an item that has been discarded carefully restored and given a new lease of life in a new home. There is also the added bonus of supporting the local community and reducing the amount of unwanted furniture that goes to landfill.”
Upcycle Birmingham is part of the Castle Vale Tenants and Residents’ Alliance (CVTRA), an organisation that has provided help, information and support for residents across east Birmingham for more than 20 years. At the very heart of the community, CVTRA is unique as it is the only resident-led organisation of its type in Birmingham, and one of only a few in England.
People who have items that they would like to donate, or who would like to find out more about training and volunteering opportunities, should contact Upcycle Birmingham on 0121 748 5795 or visit www.upcyclebirmingham.org.uk/