Law, Leisure and Learning, based in Handsworth, are celebrating the 20th year of their Community RePaint scheme, having first opened their doors to paint reuse in 2002.
Staff and volunteers from Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho have been collecting paint that would otherwise have gone for disposal and redistributed it to individuals, charities and community groups at affordable prices to help brighten homes and community spaces.
Originally operating out of a small shipping container in 2002, the scheme has grown and now has a large premises where they can accept large quantities of paint and customers can browse the store for paint they need for their project. In the past 10 years alone the scheme has prevented more than 45,000 litres of paint from going to waste.
This has included projects such as The CRICK Project, a community led project based in the heart of Handsworth, which created a sustainable community garden to the improve the health and well-being of the local people and wider community of Birmingham, using leftover paint.
Before and after photos from The Crick Project
Since 2011, Law, Leisure and Learning have also run a hostel for homeless ex-offenders. Volunteers from Marks and Spencer’s ‘Making Every Moment Special’ programme, in partnership with Neighbourly, refreshed the hostel in 2018. Using paint that is collected at their Community RePaint scheme, the team spent the day painting the dining hall, living area and the hallways, making the hostel a nice place to live and spend time.
Paint volunteer from M&S painting the Law, Leisure and Learning hostel
Recently, the scheme has begun to upcycle old furniture using chalk paint that has been donated to the scheme. Volunteers do the majority of the upcycling, learning new skills and broadening their knowledge of furniture and painting work. The scheme then sells the upcycled furniture to generate income that is put back into the Community RePaint scheme.
“The aim of celebrating our birthday is not only to mark this important milestone, but also to raise awareness of the scheme locally so more people can benefit,” said scheme manager Pauline Wright. “Community RePaint Sandwell and Soho offers a simple, local solution to the problem of waste paint. By reusing leftover paint in our community, we can bring a splash of colour to the lives of those who need it the most and help to protect the planet by preventing perfectly good paint from being disposed of.”
The Community RePaint network manager, Martin Pearse, reflected “Community RePaint Sandwell and Soho have done a fantastic job over the last 20 years. The celebrations provide a great opportunity to recognise all the hard work that has gone into making the scheme such a success and to reflect on all their achievements which has brightened community spaces and homes over the years. We are excited to continue supporting the scheme and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in years to come.”
Staff and volunteers at Community RePaint Sandwell and Soho
If you need paint to redecorate your home, or if you are a charity or community group in need of paint for a project, contact Community RePaint Sandwell and Soho to find out more and book a time to visit by calling 0121 551 5115 or emailing lawleisure@hotmail.co.uk. They are based at 2-10 Queens Head Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 0QG.
If you are a trader, manufacturer or retailer with leftover paint you can, contact the scheme to find out how they can help you. They unfortunately cannot accept open tins from householders. Residents can take leftover paint for reuse at five recycling centres in the area (Sutton Coldfield HRC, Castle Bromwich HRC, Kings Norton HRC, Perry Barr HRC, Tyseley HRC)
Paint area at Community RePaint Sandwell and Soho
