Winter 2020Reuse Littleborough

Reuse Littleborough was launched in 2015 after founder Michael Bamford noticed a discrepancy between the waste produced in the UK and those in need in poorer countries.

Set up by Littleborough resident Michael Bamford, the movement began as a way of collecting donations of unwanted baby clothes, children’s clothes and toys that families were likely to dispose of – in aid of the Forever Angels Baby Home in Tanzania.

Before deciding to go ahead with his project, Michael recalls taking some old carpet to the tip and witnessing a man throwing away three bikes: “They were simply being thrown away because the children had outgrown them. I think we are in that culture where it is easy to throw things away when really they could be reused.”

Michael began to ask that instead of throwing away items that could be reused, people donate them to his cause to be given to someone who could use them.

The response was overwhelming, so much so that Michael was loaned a shop for his venture in Smallbridge, but it quickly became apparent that the eco-friendly community group had struck a chord with many, as – inundated with donations – it outgrew its temporary Smallbridge home. 

Returning to its Littleborough roots, Reuse Littleborough celebrated its second anniversary of operating from the former Royal Oak Hotel in the centre of the town – ‘the hub that was a pub’ – in August 2020.

After closing in March due to the coronavirus lockdown, the hub reopened to customers in June, bringing a special new Parent and Child Resource Centre for key support workers like social workers, health visitors and midwives to access items for their clients.

Reuse Littleborough is Covid-compliant – plastic screens are in place, everybody is asked to wear a face covering and hand sanitiser is available. Donations are quarantined in special bays for 72 hours.

Michael said: “So many local families and charities have benefitted from your donations, things that would otherwise end up in landfill.”

As ‘Reduce-Reuse-Recycle’ becomes increasingly more important to reduce our impact on the planet – if everyone consumed at the same rate as we do in the UK, we would need 2.4 Earths – Reuse Littleborough’s ethos becomes soberingly more apparent.

Since the early days, Michael, Reuse Littleborough and your unwanted items have continued to support Forever Angels, plus local people in need and charities.

The group is currently, at the time of interview, filling another container for both Forever Angels and Neema House, another baby home, which needs: cot blankets, cot towels, hooded baby towels, children’s underwear (for both boys and girls), sterilising tablets, children’s and baby clothes.

Reuse Littleborough accepts – but is not limited to - the following items:

• School clothing, including shirts, skirts, shorts, pants and black shoes
• Toiletries, including toothbrushes, shampoo, wipes, cotton wool, buds
• Medical items like plasters, bandages, syringes, thermometers, sanitary products
• Children’s toys including  pre-school toys and books
• Baby and children’s clothes
• Wheelchairs
• Equipment for disabled children
• Other clothing

White goods cannot be accepted.

How an old bicycle helped change Haji’s life
Haji was one of the Forever Angels children that benefitted from your unwanted items.

Haji had been taken to the Forever Angels Baby Home by his father, knowing the little boy would have a better chance of survival.

His mother had passed away and both Haji and his father were suffering from tuberculosis and starving to death.

Walking three miles to school and back each day, Haji was given a bicycle from the 15 sent by Reuse Littleborough in its first shipment.

With a lot of care and medical attention, Haji thrived and returned to live with his dad.

You can contact Reuse Littleborough via: www.reuselittleborough.co.uk
41 Church Street, Littleborough OL15 8AD
Email:
Tel: 07951 730 458