Categories: Case Studies

House and Garden magazine donates leftover paint

In addition to the homes shown in the magazine, the team at House and Garden are continuously creating roomsets to inspire over half a million readers every month, as well as painting  the backdrops for product photo shoots. As a result, the magazine regularly has paint leftover for which they no longer have a use.

In the past, this paint had simply been thrown away, but then in summer 2012 Ruth Sleightholme, Assistant Decoration Editor at House and Garden, came across Community RePaint.

“I had been searching for a more cost-effective solution for disposing of our leftover paint for a while. When Community RePaint popped up, it seemed like the perfect solution, especially as all the paint we have left over is still perfectly good to use,” explained Ruth. “Now, instead of throwing our paint away we donate it to our local Community RePaint scheme.”

The scheme, Community RePaint Hackney, has been able to pass the paint on for use by community groups, schools and families in the local area. Hence, House and Garden’s donations have also helped the magazine to fulfil its commitment to being socially responsible.

“House and Garden has been great to work with,” said Morris Bennett, Manager of Community RePaint Hackney, “The paint is always in excellent condition and has meant that we’ve been able to help even more people to brighten their surroundings!”

 

Community RePaint provides scenery paint for theatre

A community based theatre project aimed at all ages, the Linkskill Community Theatre Group gives people with an interest in theatre, music, singing, dancing, technical work, costumes or set design the opportunity to partake and play an active role in something creative.

The Theatre Group usually put on a summer musical and a winter pantomime each year, but delivering two high profile productions a year isn’t cheap, especially when they have to paint new sets every six months! So although, they run several fundraising events each year using paint from Community RePaint Morpeth has meant their funds can go further.

“We were very happy when Community RePaint was able to support us with paint for the scenery for Cinderella,” said Paul McDermott, Events and Fundraising Officer, Linkskill and North Tyneside Community Development Trust, “And, we hope they’ll be able to supply us with paint for many more productions  to come.”

As well as providing opportunities to people of all ages, the Theatre Group are committed to working with people with a range of abilities, mental health disorders and learning disabilities enabling those who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to perform.

“We’re always really pleased when we can help people with paint,” said Christie Thompson, Manager, Community RePaint Morpeth. She added, “Seeing smiles on the children’s faces as they watched Cinderella, that’s when you realise that a little leftover paint can go a long way!”

“We’re always really pleased when we can help people with paint,” said Christie Thompson, Manager, Community RePaint Morpeth. She added, “Seeing smiles on the children’s faces as they watched Cinderella, that’s when you realise that a little leftover paint can go a long way!”

The cast of Cinderella standing in front of the castle scenery

Decorating a home for Dion

Community RePaint South Lancashire recently teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support and the Audacious Church to help a young family after the intensive treatment schedule for their son’s leukaemia demanded that they move house.

Since being diagnosed with Leukaemia, Dion, age 2 years, has needed continual treatment at the hospital and with the hospital being  many miles from the family’s home, and with Dion being so young, they had little choice but to move into a council house, closer to the hospital, in Burnage.

When Martin Gamester the Director of Community RePaint South Lancashire heard of the family’s plight he offered the services of their Paint Shed programme, to paint and decorate the house. He also liaised with some of the schemes’ partners to obtain other equipment required to decorate the house.

 

AVS Nationwide Decorators: Saving a packet and the planet!

AVS Nationwide Decorators is a small company based in Gateshead, which has been running for 25 years, employing qualified painters and decorators. The company undertakes decorating and property management contracts for housing associations and other organisations across the country.

After completing a job AVS sometimes find themselves with paint and other decorating materials, which are fit for use but surplus to requirements. Mindful of disposal costs and keen to minimise the company’s environmental impact, the company decided to look for an alternative to disposal and that’s when they found out about Community RePaint.

Staff at the Community RePaint head office were able to put AVS in touch with their local scheme, Community RePaint Morpeth, which was able to take not only AVS’ surplus paint but also all of their wallpaper. Diverting the hundreds of litres of paint and rolls of wallpaper from disposal not only saved the company an estimated £2000 in disposal costs, but also brightened the surroundings of the local community.

“We are constantly being contacted by families and individuals who are can’t afford to do any home improvements,” said Beverley Duncan, Manager, Community RePaint Morpeth, “That’s why paint from businesses like AVS make a real difference to local people – it gives them the chance to make real  improvements to their homes which often makes a difference to their lives.”

“We were so pleased the paint and wallpaper has gone to a good cause and, I’m so glad we found out about Community RePaint!” Vickie Gray, AVS Nationwide Decorators Limited.

All the colours of the rainbow for just £8 from Community RePaint Cambridgeshire

Over the past few months the volunteer-led Doddington Under 5s Group has been working hard to create an extraordinary sensory room in the Doddington Methodist Hall, which they use four days a week.

The room used to be a rather drab and ordinary space, but the Group’s committee had a vision to turn it into a sensory haven to help children develop their information processing skills. The Group wanted to be inclusive and felt the room would make their meetings more accessible and beneficial to children with special education needs. Spaces like this, filled with tactile toys and visual supports, provide sensory stimulation that can help with dexterity, information processing and communication, and boost confidence and well being in all young children.

It all started in November with a sponsored toddle and table-top sale. Thirty children took part in the toddle and walked a mile around the village of Doddington, spotting teddy-bears all the way. Just over £500 was raised towards the creation of the sensory room. The Group signed up as a member of the local Community RePaint Cambridgeshire scheme, run by Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network (CCORRN), which is just 4 miles up the road, and headed down to pick their paint.

“The people at the scheme were very helpful” said Andrea Ison, Vice Chair of the Group “Someone came round with us making sure we got paint with the right finishes. We picked loads of colours and in the end it only cost £8… We were up to 11.30pm for a few nights getting it done and I got a bit carried away with the flowers and butterflies. When the kids saw it their eyes opened wide and their mouths just dropped open!”

All the tins at the Community RePaint Cambridgeshire scheme are labelled with the number of litres and the price – there is even a discount shelf and tester pots – perfect for making extra colourful rainbows!

Playground revamp with Community RePaint Hull and East Riding

Since 1989 Humberside Police have run the Lifestyle community initiative. Lifestyle aims to encourage active citizenship, social responsibility, team work and community spirit amongst young people in the area. Groups interested in taking part sign up and choose an activity they would like to do within their own community.

This year one group, calling themselves, The All Stars decided they would revamp the local pre-school garden, which needed tidying, mowing, and weeding. Group members Kira Hayward, Lydia Hardy and Chloe Jarvis, all aged 11, also wanted to paint a mural on the wall to welcome the new pre-school children starting in September.

Knowing that Community RePaint would be able to assist a member of staff from the pre-school passed on Community RePaints’ details. The team contacted Community RePaint Hull who said they would be happy to help. On their visit they collected a wide range of paints which they used to paint all of the existing planters, tubs, digging area and of course the mural.

Tina Mullenger, Pre School Coordinator said ‘The girls have done an amazing job and the garden has been transformed’

Community allotment refurbishment

Mickleham Way Allotments approached give2give for some support in refurbishing their community allotment building, trading hut and toilets. The buildings had been well used for many years and as can be seen from the picture were in desperate need of a facelift.  They were the first group to contact give2give since they had joined the national Community RePaint Network and they were happy to be able to provide enough paint to complete the job.

The before and after pictures speak for themselves…….what a difference!

give2give also joined forces with the Old Wilsonians Sports Club to help out with their ‘club force renovation’ weekend.  The aim of the club force event is to complete jobs such as repair work, painting, decorating and general improvements to sport club facilities in order to make them more welcoming for existing and new members.

On a cold but sunny day in April, two give2give representatives started work on decorating the newly installed ladies changing rooms. give2give were able to supply 100 litres of paint, and give the changing rooms, toilets and shower area the finishing touches they needed. A day of glossing and emulsioning later, and the changing area was revamped and ready for use.

And on a sweltering summer day in July Sandra from give2give, along with Lynn Walsh (Community Involvement Officer for Keniston Housing Association) and Anne (volunteer caretaker), set to work to smarten up the busy and well-used Keniston Housing Association ‘Darrick Wood Community Centre’ in Orpington.

All the interior walls and doors of the community hall were repainted, and give2give were further able to help by providing 22½ litres of paint from the Community RePaint scheme. The hall now looks cleaner and brighter, and is ready for a new lease of life.

Transformational murals in the capital

Here are some of the murals completed by Forest Recycling Project (FRP), who run Community RePaint East London. Funding from Groundwork London’s Transform programme enabled FRP to provide murals to community groups in the capital free of charge.

Working with Groundwork and local residents on the design, employing local artists, and making use of reclaimed paint that was heading for landfill, supplied through Community RePaint East London, enabled them to create some truly inspirational transformations!

New start through community art in Todmorden

Community art is a style of art that is growing in popularity. It has a positive effect on communities of all types, brightening up the local area, which is evident in this art project undertaken by Tariel Braisher, or Taz, in Todmorden, near Burnely.

After many years of addiction Taz addressed his issues and felt as though he wanted to give something back to the community where he was living. With the support of conn3ct, a drug and alcohol support service, he began to explore ways in which he could do this utilising his artistic talents. He received paint from Community RePaint Bradford and worked with Art Official, NCS and Incredible Edible to achieve his aims. Taz was also able to get volunteers together from Halifax Youth Services to help undertake the project, decorating a wall at Todmorden park.

The project was done with the intention of highlighting Incredible Edibles work in the Calderdale area, whilst making the area more attractive to the community. It has also enabled young people to gain some ownership of their community while also giving something back.

This is the start of Taz’s ambition; the next project is looking at the Jacobs Well subway and roundabout in Bradford. Working in conjunction with Community RePaint Bradford, Bradford Council and conn3ct, Taz hopes to revamp the old artwork and bring it into the 21st century with a modern feel. The aim is to help highlight Bradford’s positive history. ‘Watch this space’

Upcycling success with Project UP

Project UP is a furniture upcycling project run by Groundwork Cheshire. The project takes unwanted furniture destined for landfill, strips it back to its original state and then refinishes it with a modern twist. All of the upcycling work is carried out by a team of young volunteers including students from Wirral Met College and young unemployed people. Once an item is complete it is given to local families in need, free of charge.

In order to complete the work Project UP were in need of paint, so Community RePaint provided the perfect solution to meet their needs. Project UP has solely used paint provided by Community Repaint Wirral, run by Recipro City, and have found the variety of colours available has meant that they haven’t had to limit their designs, as can be seen from the pictures.

The project was initially funded by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia Environmental Services Community Fund. MRWA chief executive, Carl Beer said: “Project UP is a great example of how a relatively small amount of money – and a creative approach – can make a big difference to the lives of people in Merseyside communities.”

Project UP Manager, Jon Hutchinson said: “We are using furniture upcycling as a vehicle to create positive social change. The project teaches young people new skills, provides furniture to those in most need and reduces waste going to landfill. The transformation of the furniture is absolutely stunning and we are creating truly bespoke items that will look great in people’s homes. The work carried out by the team of young people is amazing and the results speak for themselves”.

“As a charitable project we are working on a tight budget and the cost of paint could have restricted us, but the affordable prices on offer meant this wasn’t the case. We first heard about the Community Repaint scheme through word of mouth and have been going back to Recipro City to get our paint ever since.’’

You can follow the progress of Project UP on Facebook and Twitter.