[dropcap type =”circle”]A[/dropcap] local project that offers free workshops and helps people learn new skills, while saving unwanted items from landfill, is on the move.
Bicester Green is a centre for skills, sustainability and second hand stuff, and is leaving its current workshop on the Mackay Trading estate in Bicester in a few weeks time.
Centre Manager Emma Gordon said this week that she is waiting to hear about the outcome of their plans to move to another location in Bicester.
She said: “We are hoping to move to a new location and be based in a disused shipping container, but we are waiting to find out if this will be possible. We are really hoping that planning permission will be approved for our new location.”
Bicester Green intercepts items that are destined for landfill, instead making use of them as catalyst for learning in their workshop. Old bicycles, electrical items and furniture are repaired, reused, recycled or upcycled by volunteers.
Free workshops are currently being run at the project for local people who are unemployed.
Emma added: “We are a place for sharing skills between people, inviting those with knowledge of repair of bikes, furniture and electrical items to share their skills with those who would benefit from learning. We have about 42 volunteers including a board of trustees and we have been going for four years
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“We build on the skills that our volunteers have to repair and re-sell the items that are donated to us.”
Emma and her team have just a few weeks to pack up the workshop before March 1 when the building has to be empty, so at the moment they are not accepting donations of large items.
She added: “People can still come and buy items from us though, and as soon as we are settled in our new home we will be very happy to start taking donations again, and encouraging new volunteers to get involved.”
Some items that are upcycled such as furniture are also sold by Sobell House who have a warehouse next door. That charity will be on the move soon as well, but items from Bicester Green will be available to buy from there for the next two weeks.
To find out more about Bicester Green, visit www.bicestergreen.org.uk
