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Students’ Big Give extends helping hand to local causes

Peter Wright, from food charity Fareshare, and Bettina Urban, SCA Project

Peter Wright, from food charity Fareshare, and Bettina Urban, SCA Project

Press release issued: 12 July 2011

Dedicated volunteers from the University of Bristol have helped to convert tonnes of unwanted items into thousands of pounds for local charities.

This year’s Big GIVE charity collection saw students and staff donate and collect nearly three tonnes of clothes, food and household items.

St Peter’s Hospice calculated that the value generated by the 225 bags donated to them from the Big GIVE and other end-of term waste initiatives amounted to £7,590.

This will allow the charity to buy 238 syringe drivers, 26 memory boxes for children, 40 home visits and fund for 20 patients to attend its Day Hospice.

Over 4,000 students were given the opportunity to take part in the scheme by bringing their unwanted clothes, shoes, food, kitchenware or household items to designated collection points.

The collection specifically targeted first year students who were leaving halls of residence and moving into private accommodation, many having amassed items which they would otherwise be throwing away.

The Big GIVE was organised in partnership with the University's Sustainability department and volunteers through the Students’ Union Student Community Action (SCA) group.

A team of 10 volunteers coordinated the whole process from the planning and collecting to the sorting and distributing.

They successfully donated one tonne of clothes and shoes, half a tonne of good quality kitchenware and 125kg of tinned food.

Bettina Urban, SCA Project Coordinator for the Big GIVE, said: “I am amazed we were able to collect three tonnes of reusable goods which, instead of ending as landfill, will now help support the local community.

“It was great to see Bristol students make an effort to live green and recycle while supporting charities at the same time.

“I also want to thank the student volunteers who helped sort the collected items and, of course, all the students who donated their unwanted belongings.”

The local charities which benefitted were Bristol Night Shelter, Novas Group, the Salvation Army, Fairbridge West, Crisis Centre, Wayahead, CAAAD project, Dean Crescent Women’s Hostel, Emmaus and Oxfam.

Rose Rooney, Sustainability Manager at the University of Bristol, said: “Being involved in the Big GIVE is extremely important to help us promote the reuse of items at the University and provide students with the opportunity to have a positive impact on their environment. Thanks to all of the students, volunteers and hall managers we have had another successful year.”

 

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