Plaid President, Jill Evans MEP, is backing a Rhondda recycling organisation.
After many successful years in Ferndale, Aberaman and Ynyshir, “toogoodtowaste”, has received a development grant from the Big Lottery to develop their project prior to submitting a Community Asset Transfer application in May 2011. They are hoping to purchase and extend their Ynyshir base.
After meeting with staff and volunteers and touring the site, Ms Evans said:
“The aim of ‘toogoodtowaste’ is to help provide people with good quality recycled furniture, to provide volunteering and training opportunities, and to divert waste away from landfill – in 2009 alone they handled 16,000 items which otherwise would have gone to landfill.
“toogoodtowaste’ provide an excellent community resource and should be encouraged in everything they do.”
The organisation presently employs a total of 9 staff and has 109 volunteers. With space becoming limited, they desperately need an extension to their premises, allowing them to develop a purpose built training area and canteen.
Jill Evans continued,
“The goods on offer are of a very high standard and the showroom is well worth a visit.
“I was particularly impressed by the way ‘toogoodtowaste’ help their volunteers with their personal development. Volunteers come from a wide age range, and they’re united by the fact that they all want to help the local community. Everyone is so friendly and ready to help.
“The Community Asset Transfer fund would allow ‘toogoodtowaste’ to further improve what they offer and would be a major asset, not only to the individuals who are employed and volunteer, but also to the wider community. I visit so many projects around Wales and I’m proud we’ve got such an inspiring project in the Rhondda.”
Lynda Davies, of toogoodtowaste said:
“Since renovating the building in 2008, I have been delighted to see how the community of Rhondda Cynon Taf use the facilities, to re-use furniture items and volunteer.
“We work very hard to make people feel valued and respected and have been described as a “sanctuary” where people who are disadvantaged can be helped either through the provision of furniture or through a supported volunteer role.
“The Ynyshir building is owned by the Local Authority and the rent will be around £30,000 per year from 2012. However, if we are successful with our second round application we will be able to buy this building and extend it so that we can provide a range of work based learning.
“This will be a real long term asset for the community of Rhondda Cynon Taf and we encourage people to visit our showroom to give us their views on the design of the extension and our new services.”
