Ponty Mython and Holey Pale
Great Sofa Landfill
No. 10 Visit
Dear Prime Minister,
We run a project called Eco-Logic in Redruth, Cornwall. Eco-logic is a volunteer run recycling training centre that also provides furniture in return for time given to community projects.
We believe that Eco-Logic represents everything that The Big Society is trying to achieve; however, we are finding it increasingly difficult to access any form of support.
We are not business people and never set out to create what we have, we need help to secure funds through the investment and contract readiness fund.
We started this project nearly ten years ago, we had no experience and no intention of doing what we are doing now, it grew organically as a direct result of need within the community, we have never had any substantial funding mainly because we have so many cross cutting themes and such a diverse reach that it was often difficult for people to understand the complexity and then put it in a neat pigeon hole, which seems to be one the difficulties people have in understanding the Big Society.
We have found that there is no room for organisations like ours, that do not have top heavy management and invest all profit straight back into the community, our way is often blocked by Quangos controlling the funding in the voluntary sector, who seem to funnel financing towards the organisations that they favour.
George Eustice MP used our Organisation as an example of how Big Society should work on The Politics Show earlier this year and we have also featured in his newsletter.
We would like to bring to your attention the many ways in which we are already delivering an invaluable service, benefiting the community and saving money.
For example
- We hold contacts with Cornwall Council to provide low cost
beach cleaning services,
graveyard strimming services and
public toilet cleaning services - We provide clients of Cornwall Council with furniture to furnish their homes this helps
save money spent on temporary housing
reduce tenancy risk
improve standards of living
(details of which can be found on accompanying CD) - We recycle approx 10 tonnes of wood and electrical items a week
saving approx £320,000 per year - We improve community cohesion through voluntary community work.
- We provide training and employment for the long term unemployed
- We provide additional low cost workforce to carry out work of low priority to the Council, but high priority to community, EG Redruth Leats project. (details of which can be found on accompanying CD)
We believe that our project is the perfect vehicle to deliver the Big Society; it could very easily be rolled out nationally, all we are asking is for your help to make this possible and to create a better future for everyone.
Yours sincerely
Owen and Georgina Braines
Eco-Logic
Ere mi Lovers
Hello Cornwall
Welcome to Ecologic -
Porthtowan Beach @ low tide
The last month has seen over 200 volunteers lending a hand in the community, together we ARE making a difference!
Based in Pool & sandwiched between Camborne and Redruth, Ecologic is Cornwall’s recycle & reuse centre, helping those in need of life’s basic essentials.
So how does it work?
Well we don’t want your money, because we know there is little of it about.
Money is not required!
All we ask is that you offer some time to help in community projects. It could be recycling beds or painting a park bench. In return for your work you can claim items that we have in stock at our extensive warehouse.
Eco-Logic
An old sofa that cannot be re-used will be stripped down into components and recycled. A sofa is made up of wood, cardboard, metal and chipboard. Chipboard costs £150 a ton to landfill but only £45 to recycle. Recycling 5 tonnes of chipboard could save enough money to pay home help for a week.
A broken washing machine was stripped down and sold for scrap, it paid for the diesel to deliver free furniture to a woman with terminal cancer who was sleeping on a floor.