Categories: News

Nicci, please can you tell us a little bit about your organisation, SOFA Project, and why you became a Community RePaint scheme?

Community RePaint Bristol City is hosted by The SOFA Project which is a reuse, recycling, and rehabilitation charity, founded in 1980.  Our charitable purpose is to help relieve poverty, promote social inclusion and protect the environment through reuse and recycling.  We focus on selling good quality second-hand furniture, appliances, homewares, and paint at affordable prices for all. The SOFA Project also provides employment and training opportunities for people excluded from the workplace, particularly offenders & ex-offenders.

Joining the Community RePaint Network in 2018 was a natural progression for us as it meets the ethos and values of the charity. We stock both our Old Market and Gloucester Road stores with brilliant reusable paint that would have otherwise gone to waste. The paint area compliments other items sold in the stores and helps us save more items from going to waste and meets our environmental objectives.

Outside of the Gloucester Road SOFA Project store in Bristol & Nicci Peck, CEO of SOFA Project

 

Can you tell us what your typical working day is like and share your top tip for managing your business during these more uncertain times?

We have numerous volunteers and some staff who work hard on the Community RePaint scheme at our warehouse in Bristol City. Daily paint operations include processing paint that has either been collected from the local recycling centre or from businesses. We thoroughly check all the cans of paint to ensure that it is still useable and can be sold to either individuals or community groups.

One of our volunteers from the local prison has a real passion to the Community RePaint operations.   We ensure that the paint that is accepted for reuse is of the highest standard, and to make customer browsing easier, we paint the lids of the tins so customers can see the actual colour inside, without the need for opening. This opportunity has facilitated in building valuable skills and experience for the prisoner, supporting their rehabilitation.

Meanwhile in the shops, our enthusiastic staff members ensure that the paint shelves are fully stocked with a range of types and colours for customers to browse and purchase from just £1 per litre.

The past 18 months have been a rollercoaster for us. My top tip to making it through these times is to always be flexible and reactive to what is going on.

Community RePaint Bristol City paint shelves at Old Market

 

You collect leftover paint from the local Household Waste and Recycling centre – what are the benefits of doing this?

Bristol has an appetite for reuse and householders are enthusiastic to prevent resources like leftover paint from going to waste. Through being part of the Community RePaint Network, a relationship between us and Bristol Waste was established to collect leftover paint on a weekly basis from the local household waste and recycling centre.

This relationship has numerous benefits for us at the SOFA Project. The contract provides a steady income for the charity, meaning we can invest in staff and operational overheads to continue the great work we are doing for the environment and community. Our relationship also benefits Bristol Waste by reducing paint disposal costs for the local authority and prevents a valuable resource from going to waste in the city.

With approximately 40 litres of reusable paint wasted in UK homes every minute, collecting from the local recycling centre offers us a wide range of superb reusable paint donated from householders. This means that our shelves can be stocked with paint for all types of projects so that we can help more individuals, families and community organisations find affordable paint.

Sign at Old Market showcasing the relationship between Bristol Waste and SOFA Project

 

What have been Community RePaint Bristol City’s biggest achievements thus far?

We are extremely proud of preventing paint from going to waste within Bristol and making it affordable for everyone, be that low-income families, community organisations, schools, social clubs or even students. In 2020, when we were only open for eight months due to the Covid lockdown, we collected 7,374 litres of useable paint from the Bristol area, helping over 960 individuals brighten their lives with paint that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Organisations that have benefited from our Community RePaint scheme include The Salvation Army, St Mungos homeless charity and One25.

It is also an honour to work with the volunteers from the local prison, providing them with new, valuable skills that they can use in later life. The volunteers have also started upcycling donated furniture with the leftover paint, which we then sell within the SOFA Project stores.

Do you have any painting tips that you can share with us?

My biggest tip is to be bold with your colours! During the pandemic, I spent a lot of my time painting SOFA Project’s offices with great colours. Our meeting room is one of my favourites (pictured below) and I would encourage everyone to be brave and create a feature wall in your home or office to bring some colour into your life every day.

When painting, I would recommend to not overload your brush! Overloading your brush can make decorating a very messy experience and waste a lot of paint. I urge covering just one third of your brush when painting for an even, tidier, and efficient decorating experience.

A meeting room at SOFA Project Old Market, painted using leftover paint

 

What’s next for Community RePaint Bristol City?

Apart from continuing to navigate our way through the pandemic, we have plans to expand into a new part of Bristol, which will include a Community RePaint area. This will allow more people from across Bristol to be able to access our services and purchase affordable paint to brighten their spaces and lives. We have also been in talks for potentially recruiting volunteers from the local women’s prison, to build valuable skills and experience for the female prisoners, aiding their rehabilitation.

 

Click here for further information on Community RePaint Bristol City and to purchase affordable paint. You can also keep up to date with their latest news and stories via their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

If you live in Bristol and have leftover paint you no longer need, you can drop it off at the St Phillips Recycling Centre where Community RePaint Bristol City will collect for reuse.

Why not share this article with someone you know to help them save money and the environment!

For this month’s ‘Meet the Scheme’, we spoke to Pauline Wright, Manager at Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho which is run by Law Leisure Learning, to find out more about what happens behind the scenes. Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho has been part of the network since 2002 and has become an integral centre of the Handsworth community, in Birmingham, over the past 19 years.

Pauline Wright (middle) with volunteers outside Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho

 

So first things first, Pauline, please can you tell us a little bit about your organisation, Law Leisure Learning, and why you became a Community RePaint scheme?

We started 23 years ago, opening as a youth club and adult centre and the centre quickly became a place for young people in the area to call their own. The centre quickly grew and started to provide CV workshops/skills training/classrooms, providing these individuals with confidence, new skills and socialisation, in preparation for the workforce within a safe space. Since 2011, Law Leisure and Learning have also run a hostel for homeless ex-offenders, and since 2020, we now host a food bank for local individuals and families.

I was interested in joining the Community RePaint Network as I think it’s important to save resources. We believe in recycling and we do not like things to go to waste. We also saw the opportunity to partner with a local charity that assists children leaving care – they find them a home and we provide them with paint. We also help with a women’s refuge and provide them with paint for free for their premises.

A volunteer sorting the paint area at Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho

 

Can you tell us what your typical working day is like and share your top tip for managing your business during these more uncertain times?

My team and I start our day off at the hostel, making sure all tenants are ok and completing any DIY tasks (including using paint from our scheme). I then start on Community RePaint operations, which includes accepting paint donations, colour coding tins, ensuring the correct type of paint is on the correct shelving.

Volunteers at the scheme are a big help and I am very grateful for all the assistance. Volunteers manage the sales desk, serving customers and helping them find the correct paint for their project.

Despite being busy, we always try and find time to be creative. We often find old materials heading for landfill and reuse them to give them a whole new breath of life. One of my favourite projects is reusing a door frame and pallet wood to create a new bench. We then treated and painted the wood using donated paint that we have at our scheme.

Upcycled benches at Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho

 

What have been Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho’s biggest achievements so far?

We have grown a lot since joining the network. We originally operated out of a small shipping container, but since growing, we moved into a big premises where we can accept large quantities of paint and customers can browse the store for paint they need for their project.

I also am proud of the amount of paint we get reused within the community. In 2020, despite the pandemic, we redistributed over 2,330 litres of paint to the local individuals and community organisations.

What’s next for Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho?

Recently, we have 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. We then sell the upcycled furniture to generate income that is put back into the Community RePaint scheme.

We’re looking to soon recruit a fully paid Community RePaint scheme manager so that the scheme can grow. If you’re in the local area looking for an opportunity, please like the scheme’s Facebook page and keep an eye out for recruitment.

But the most important thing is to keep smiling and continue to help people and reduce waste. There are many people who are less fortunate than most of us and need our help and if anything the last year has taught us, it’s that we are all in this together.

An upcycling project at Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho

 

Click here for further information on the Community RePaint Sandwell & Soho and to book an appointment to purchase paint.

On a regular basis we are reminded both by the media and noticeable changes to the weather, that climate change is a real threat to our planet. It has therefore become increasingly important for us to look at our personal habits to see how we can reduce our environmental footprint1. In this blog we focus specifically on how our paint purchases can impact the environment and how Community RePaint can help you reduce your carbon emissions.

The impact of carbon emissions on our planet

Carbon dioxide is classified as a greenhouse gas because, when in excess, it traps heat in our planet’s atmosphere – a contributing factor to climate change. Significant amounts of carbon emissions are released into our atmosphere through both the burning of fossil fuels and solid waste, which is particularly prevalent in the manufacturing industry. Although the climate of our planet does naturally fluctuate, human’s industrial processes have considerably sped up and amplified the process. As is regularly reported in the news worldwide, climate change is altering our planet’s ecosystems, causing extreme weather events such as wildfires, severe droughts, flooding and heat waves, which can have disastrous consequences for people and wildlife globally.

Carbon emissions and paint manufacture

We use paint to decorate, refresh and maintain our private and public spaces. Paint can be an important medium for self-expression, but what impact does paint have on the environment? Carbon emissions are one by-product produced during the paint manufacturing process and will vary in amount depending on the brand and type of paint produced. In general, it is possible to calculate the carbon footprint of a tin of paint by looking at the manufacturers operations and calculating over a period of time (ideally a few years) the energy, water used, and waste produced for different types of paint manufactured². For the purpose of this article, we will use Crown Paints calculation of 13.58 kg CO₂ equivalent per 5 litre of Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt paint container³ as a guide.

According to the British Coatings Federation 703 million litres of paint and coatings were produced in the UK in 2019⁴, which, if we use the calculation used by Crown Paints above as a starting point, amounts to an eye watering 1,909,348,000 kg CO₂ equivalent emissions produced in the UK paint sector alone.

So, what can we do to help reduce the carbon emissions produced in the paint sector?

Paint reuse and Community RePaint

Carbon impact data indicates that reusing paint saves a significant amount of CO₂ emissions for the paint industry. Approximately 50 million litres of reusable paint are leftover each year in the UK alone, either being stored in garages, attics or sheds by homeowners, end of line paint from manufacturers or leftover paint from trade, for example. Rather than allow this usable paint to enter the waste stream, Community RePaint help to distribute this paint within the community, helping to reduce the need for new paint production.

The Community RePaint Network is made up of over 65 schemes and in 2019 redistributed 365,988 litres of reusable paint.  No two schemes are the same, varying in size, operational set up and motivational drivers, but they all have the same vision – to create communities where everyone has the opportunity to brighten their spaces and their lives. Our paint has helped local groups and charities refresh shared spaces and create colourful murals for the community; enabled individuals to redecorate their homes at a low cost; and provided employment, training and volunteer opportunities building valuable skills and experience.

Photo of staff and paint display at Community RePaint Swindon

 

Our schemes sell a range of different paint brands, finishes and colours, but due to the nature of paint donations, they vary from scheme to scheme and from week to week. We therefore recommend to call your local scheme in advance of any visit to see if they have what you are looking for in stock.

Buying leftover, perfectly reusable paint from a Community RePaint scheme can reduce your carbon footprint and help reduce the speed of climate change. With 365,988 litres of paint redistributed in 2019 on the network, an estimated 988,168kg CO₂ equivalent was saved from new paint production. Just imagine how much CO₂ could be saved if the 50 million litres of leftover paint in the UK was reused.

If you have leftover paint from your household find your nearest drop-off point here, where it will be collected by a scheme who will reuse it. If you are a manufacturer, retailer, decorator or local company your local Community RePaint scheme may be able to help. Find out more here.

Paint donation container located at Community RePaint Camden located at Regis Road Recycling Centre

 

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References

¹ https://lpelc.org/what-is-an-environmental-foot-print-ecological-footprint/

² https://www.firwood.co.uk/blog/firwood-news-update/carbon-footprints-floor-paints-and-industrial-paints-and-coatings

³ https://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/FINAL_Bulk_Paint_Report.pdf

⁴ https://www.coatings.org.uk/Statistics/Industry_Statistics_public.aspx

Community RePaint is a network of more than 65 schemes that collect surplus, reusable paint and re-distribute it to individuals, families, and communities in need, improving the wellbeing of people and the appearance of places across the UK.

Volunteers have a huge impact on our network. Many of our schemes are run or supported by volunteers. Every day there are groups of volunteers making the most of the low-cost paint available through Community RePaint the UK’s paint reuse network, brightening spaces and lives in their communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic bought numerous hurdles for Community RePaint schemes, and given social distancing measures and the combination of postponements or cancellations of most operations, the traditional form of in-person volunteering was put to a halt for many.

However, despite this, over 230 staff and volunteers worked at our Community RePaint schemes last year, helping redistribute 250,749 litres of leftover paint. We also saw amazing events like the Cheltenham Paint Festival use recycled paint from Community RePaint Wirral to brighten the streets.

Community RePaint Wigan is awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Staff and volunteers at The Brick, who host Community RePaint Wigan have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The charity has a team of 148 volunteers, who in the last 12 months alone have volunteered for 17,424 hours. They work across a range of services including a food bank, retail, supporting people the charity works with, delivering food parcels and of course, reusing leftover paint within the local community.

Louise Green, CEO at The Brick, said: “To have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is extremely humbling and is testament to the inspirational work that all of our incredible volunteers do. Quite simply, we couldn’t do what we do without them and I and all of the team at The Brick are delighted that their hard work has been recognised.”

We want to say big thank you and well done to the team at The Brick.

Interested in volunteering?

The majority of our Community RePaint schemes provide volunteering opportunities. Our schemes work with local volunteering and referral organisations but they also welcome direct enquiries. If you are interested in volunteering at a scheme, please contact them directly to discuss what is available.

Volunteering with Community RePaint at a scheme is a great way to develop your skills, especially if you are interested in paint, decorating or reuse. Many of our volunteers have found routes into employment through their roles. In addition, there are a number of other benefits. Voluntary activity within the community is associated with better health, lower crime, improved educational performance and greater life satisfaction.

If so, this is a common thought which causes many people to delay redecorating their home, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In this article we will take you through a selection of affordable decorating options that will not break the bank, allowing you to start decorating on a budget sooner rather than later.

Colour swatch card (Mika Baumeister)

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to refresh your home is with paint. But you do not have to repaint all the walls to change the look and feel of your home, you can rather paint a feature wall, upcycle a piece of furniture, update the colour of your picture frames or your garden fence.

Create a feature wall

Have you considered a feature wall, where you choose one wall in a room to act as the focal point – whether you paint it a different colour, create a mural, or use a stencil? A feature wall often requires less paint and will allow you to explore your creativity and design a space that is specific to your style and taste.

Mountain mural Stenciled artwork

Upcycling

Another way to decorate on a budget is to upcycle your furniture and home accessories, both internally and externally. We love how a coat of paint can transform an old belonging into something new. The possibilities are endless in terms of colours, patterns and textures.

Upcycled bookcase

Choose your colour(s)

Before you start your project, decide on your preferred colour palette. If you are not entirely sure what colour(s) you should choose, you may want to consider purchasing a couple of tester pots to paint patches to see how the colours look in your room. Pinterest[1] can be a good starting place to look for colour inspiration, and if you’re keen on interior design, you may also be interested in creating a mood board to help get your thoughts ordered. Once you have a better idea of the look you are going for you can start purchasing the paint.

Paint patches

Affordable paint

As a member of the Community RePaint Network we sell reusable, leftover paint at an affordable cost. “You can use leftover paint?” I hear you ask. Well yes! We sell good quality paint that was either leftover from another homeowner’s decoration project, a mis-tint from a retailer or a dented tin from a manufacturer, for example. This means you can stick to your goal of decorating on a budget.

Community RePaint scheme paint display

Rather than allow this perfectly usable paint to end up in the waste stream, we resell the paint to the community for approximately £1 – £2 per litre. This is a significant price drop from what you would normally be expected to pay for a tin of paint from your local retailer, which can range from £12 – £15 for a container of 2.5L coloured paint depending on the brand.

The Community RePaint network is made up of over 65 schemes that each sell a range of paint from interior emulsion, masonry, fencing and furniture paint in a range of finishes, colours and amounts.

For more information on the Community RePaint Network and to find your nearest scheme, please visit communityrepaint.org.uk

[1] Pinterest is a visual social media platform where users can create and share images.

The long-awaited renovation project at Community RePaint Derby is now finally complete, with a new fresh, and welcoming look. The renovations delayed the scheme reopening from the third lockdown on 12 April, but reopened on 13 May 2021 with restricted hours and appointment only.

From replacing the old windows to painting the centre front, the site has gone through a whole set of works to brighten up the scheme. The centre includes a scrapstore, a craft shop, event space, games hire, and of course, it hosts the Community RePaint scheme in the area.

Before

After

Managed by The Derby Play and Recycling Centre, our scheme in Derby has been part of the network since 2000, making it one of our oldest schemes, and who will be celebrating their 21st birthday in October. The majority of their paint comes from a local recycling centre where they collect paint that has been dropped off by local residents.

They have a range of colours and types of paint available. The best days to visit are on a Tuesday and Wednesday when their whole range is available and someone will be there to assist you. The scheme was created to help community groups and people who are on low incomes, or who are in receipt of benefits.

Before

After

In this article, we will explore the different components that make up paint, the manufacturing process and the by-products created. We also explore how the Community RePaint Network prevents paint wastage by selling reusable paint in the community. We hope that this information will allow you to make a more informed decision when choosing which paint to purchase for your future projects.

What does paint consist of?

Paint is typically made up of four main components: resin, additives, solvent and pigments. Each has an important purpose which we will explore in more detail below.

1. Pigments give paint its colour. The basic white pigment typically used is titanium dioxide, and other pigments that add colour include iron oxide and metallic salts for example[1].
2. Resin is used in paint to hold all the pigments together and help the paint dry. You can get both natural (e.g. linseed oil, soybean oil) and synthetic (e.g. acrylics, epoxies) resins[1].
3. Additives act as fillers (e.g. calcium carbonate[1]) and can sometimes act as anti-fungicidal agents.
4. Solvents[2] or water-based are either chemical-based liquids (e.g. alcohols, acetone[1]) or water-based that make paint easier to apply to surfaces.

Image copyright Community RePaint Network

How is paint made?

There are four main stages in the paint manufacturing process which have been simplified below:

1. Preparation – this involves measuring all the ingredients and making a paste.
2. Pigment dispersion and mixing – the pigment powder is broken down by the resin and additives. The ingredients are then mixed in paint mixing machines to combine and disperse the pigments.
3. Thinning the paste – additional solvent is added to the mixture to give it the correct consistency.
4. Testing – the final stage is testing the paint prior to containing, to ensure it has the correct viscosity[3] and appearance.

Image copyright Community RePaint Network

By-products of the paint manufacturing process

As with any manufacturing process, the paint industry produces a range of by-products during the process. Paint manufacturers have systems in place to help reduce and prevent the waste released into the environment, which we have summarised in the table below.

By-product	Description	System implemented
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)	VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids[4].	To reduce emissions, manufacturers implement control techniques including condensers, absorbers, afterburners and storage tanks[5].
Wastewater	Wastewater is any water that has been contaminated in the manufacturing process.	Large paint manufacturer will have an in-house wastewater treatment facility that treats all liquids generated on-site[1].
Waste solvents	Solvents are used to clean the manufacturing equipment in between batches of paint. It is this washing process that results in solvent wastage[1].	The recovery and reuse of these solvents would reduce the amount of solvents disposed as waste[6].
Sludge	A combination of left-over chemicals and paint during the manufacturing process.	Can be retrieved and used as fillers in other industrial products[7]. Although it is often incinerated as hazardous waste[7].

Saving paint from the waste stream

So now you know a little bit more about what paint is made of and how it is made, did you know that an estimated 50 million litres of the 320 million litres of paint sold in the UK each year go to waste? This paint is either thrown away or stored in homes or garages despite over 50% of it still being usable.

Community RePaint is a UK wide paint reuse network, sponsored by Dulux, that aims to collect this leftover paint and redistribute it to benefit individuals, families, communities and charities in need at an affordable cost.

Buying leftover, perfectly reusable paint from a Community RePaint scheme can reduce your global footprint by reducing the need to manufacture new paint. If you have leftover paint from your household, find your nearest drop-off point here, where it will be collected by a scheme that will reuse it. If you are a manufacturer, retailer, decorator or local company with leftover paint, please contact us for further information on how we can reuse your paint.

We sell a range of different paint brands, finishes and colours, call us in advance of your visit to see if we have what you are looking for in stock.

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• [1] http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Paint.html#ixzz6mYaD3wxJ
• [2] The term ‘solvent’ is applied to a large number of chemical substances which are used to dissolve or dilute other substances or materials. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—americas/—ro-lima/—sro-port_of_spain/documents/presentation/wcms_250196.pdf
• [3] Viscosity of often referred to as the thickness of a fluid. https://www.rheosense.com/what-is-viscosity
• [4] https://www.envirovent.com/blog/what-are-vocs-volatile-organic-compounds/
• [5] https://bit.ly/3dCujd3
• [6] https://bit.ly/3eiKQlD
• [7] https://bit.ly/2QGYBTd

To open our newest feature, ‘Meet the Scheme’, we spoke to Matt Wood, Reuse Shop Manager at Community RePaint Loughborough which is run by The Exaireo Trust, to find out more about what happens behind the scenes. Matt has been employed at the Exaireo Reuse Project for the last 2.5 years and manages the day-to-day paint operations at the scheme.

Matt Wood, Reuse Shop Manager at Community RePaint Loughborough

 

So first things first, Matt, please can you tell us a little bit about your organisation, The Exaireo Trust, and why you became a Community RePaint scheme?

Community RePaint Loughborough is hosted by The Exaireo Trust (Exaireo), a local Christian Charity and Registered Provider of Social Housing providing temporary supported accommodation and a holistic service to single adults that are homeless in the Midlands. The aim of Exaireo Reuse Project is to provide work experience for the homeless supported by Exaireo through upcycling furniture, providing these individuals with confidence, new skills and socialisation, in preparation for the workforce within a safe space.

We manage 12 supported accommodation houses in the area which we rent to ex-homeless and provide placements for these individuals. Through this work, we gained a greater awareness of paint waste and paint reuse, which is also when we found out about the Community RePaint Network and decided to join.

This provided an additional project for our ex-homeless clients to gain skills in areas, such as processing paint, paint retail and painting furniture.

Furniture upcycling at Community Paint Loughborough 

 

Can you tell us what your typical working day is like and share your top tip for managing your business during these more uncertain times?

A typical day at the Exaireo Reuse Project includes taking upcycling commissions from customers and upcycling furniture with paint from our Community RePaint scheme. We have had 37 upcycling customer commissions over the last 12 months, where they have asked us to personalise old furniture that they’ve purchased through us.

We also work hard with increasing our online presence to ensure consistent messaging, especially during the numerous lockdowns, including promoting the scheme and encouraging people to get involved – whether that be through purchasing or through their presence. By increasing the awareness of the Exaireo Reuse Project and Community RePaint Loughborough we are helping to change the lives of homeless people.

We’ve recently built an online shop to allow customers to purchase paint online to collect in-store here.

Community Paint Loughborough’s online paint shop

 

My top tip for managing our business – at all times – is to invest in the people who come through the door. I’ve noticed that customers who come in the store are often grateful for the conversations I have with them, whether that be talking about what we do as an organisation or helping them choose the right type of paint for their project.

It’s a more personal experience and important to establish that customer relationship. It’s what separates us from the rest of the paint retailers in the area. We, therefore, pride ourselves in providing an educational and pleasant experience whilst helping to make a difference.

Furniture upcycling at Community Paint Loughborough 

 

What have been Community RePaint Loughborough’s biggest achievements thus far?

I honestly think that our dedication to customer servicing has been our biggest achievement. We are always trying to get a better understanding of our customer’s requirements and develop relationships.

We are also interested in developing new, efficient ways of doing things and broadening our horizons, specifically in terms of how we can support the community even more.

Joining the Community RePaint Network has also allowed us to do more in terms of what we can offer customers and the work experience we can provide for the ex-homeless.

In 2019 Community RePaint Loughborough collected 6,285 litres of reusable paint and distributed 5,794 litres of reusable paint.

Community Paint Loughborough’s paint display

 

Do you have any painting tips that you can share with us?

The most important thing to remember is that painting is a process, and it makes such a difference if you complete all steps of the process – sanding, cleaning, priming etc. – to ensure a good result. Having a better understanding of each step of the process often leads to increased investment in projects.

For those interested, it is also worth spending a bit of time researching the difference between water-based and oil-based paints to decide what’s best for your project. There is so much more to be aware of than just what colour to choose.

To recap, for a higher-quality finish you need to put in a bit more elbow grease to reap the rewards. When it comes to painting furniture it’s all about prep, prep, prep.

Proper preparation precedes perfection!

Paint processing at Community RePaint Loughborough

 

What’s next for the Exaireo Reuse Project?

We are expanding our range of products and reuse operations at present. We received 6 months of funding to recycle and repurpose wooden pallets, which will be overseen by an ex-resident. We kicked this off in December when we sold our pallet wood Christmas Trees, but we plan on putting together a brochure of items that customers can order, such as bird boxes, storage, tables, etc. The pallets will be donated from a local business and will be repurposed by the ex-homeless. We will promote this new project online and would ideally, like to sell our stock to local garden centres.

Click here for further information on the Exaireo Reuse Project and to purchase paint.

 

CT Furniture, who host Community RePaint schemes in the West Midlands and the North East of England, has opened a new shop in Northfield, Birmingham. This replaces the old store on Garrison Street in the Bordesley area of Birmingham, which is now closed.

The new store stocks a variety of domestic and office furniture to help individuals, families, businesses and community organisations find affordable furniture items with ease.

As part of the Community RePaint Network, the scheme stocks ReColour emulsion paint in a range of colours. It provides great coverage and diverts good quality paint from the waste stream. Prices start at just £2 per litre.

The store opened on 12 April 2021 and is located at 780-784 Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2NN and is open Monday – Friday 8:30 – 4:30 and Saturdays 9:00 – 3:00.

The Northfield store joins CT Funiture’s other stores in the region selling affordable paint, including Wolverhampton and West Bromwich.

Community RePaint schemes reopen in England and Wales today under the second stage of the UK government’s four-step roadmap for lifting lockdown. Staff at the schemes are excited to welcome customers back to COVID-safe shopping and to provide affordable paint individuals.

The national lockdown in the United Kingdom in early January 2021 resulted in most Community RePaint schemes closing their doors to the public. Schemes adapted to the situation by offering click and collect services and kerbside pick up, which allowed them to continue providing paint to brighten spaces and lives in local communities.

We encourage you to contact your nearest scheme directly to check opening times and paint stocks. However please remember to adhere to COVID guidelines when visiting your nearest scheme.

Community RePaint schemes reopen in Scotland on 26 April 2021. Schemes in Northern Ireland can currently only operate a call and collect service.

Have a big project? If you need more than 60 litres you can order our remanufactured paint ReColour here. If you have paint that you would like to donate, find your nearest drop-off point here.