Thousands of young people can continue to get crafty thanks to a big-hearted donation from a Colwick-based packaging manufacturer.
Gedling Play Forum is a registered charity that supports children’s play throughout Gedling borough.
As well as providing play activities, workshops and volunteering activities, it also runs a Scrap Store, which stocks a wide range of recyclable materials for creative play.
Members of the forum, from schools to families, and toddler groups to residential homes, can access the materials, which would have been destined for landfill.
Lesley Rhodes, a volunteer co-ordinator with the forum, contacted Colwick packaging company The Wilkins Group via its Twitter page, asking if it could help out by donating any useable waste for the Scrap Store.
The firm, which specialises in folded carton packaging and counts supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Spar amongst its clients, was quick to respond.
Justin Wilkins, Wilkins’ sales and marketing director, got in touch with Paul Curwood, the firm’s commercial manager, who was more than happy to help.
Paul took time out of his Saturday morning off and delivered a pallet of whiteboard and gold card which would have been destined for the recycling compactor to the forum’s base at Wollaton Avenue Community Centre, in Gedling.
Lesley said: “We are run by volunteers and collect manufacturers’ waste and put it in our Scrap Store. We have just under 200 member groups and provided play for over 8,000 people last year.
“We had asked The Wilkins Group for some recyclable material and we were thrilled to have a swift delivery from Paul. We also collected a second pallet a few days later.
“Some went out to a Girls Brigade group within five minutes. Redhill Young People’s Centre also asked for some and some gold card has been reserved for a school which is putting together a sensory area.
“We are very grateful to them – we are hoping it’s going to be an ongoing thing. They did say if we need any more just to give them a ring.
“Some church groups have been in – with Christmas coming up, the material will be very handy. Some of our groups have almost no funding and anything like this donation is a total bonus to everybody.
“With some Scrap Stores closing, we are very grateful for all the help we are getting at the moment. It’s great to see local businesses supporting the local Scrap Store. And Wilkins is very strong on recycling.”
Mr Wilkins said: “We are very keen to support local organisations, especially charities, so were keen to help when Lesley got in touch asking for some material.
“We are big on recycling and are delighted that Gedling Play Forum are able to make use of our cardboard via lots of local groups who are set to benefit creatively.”
To find out more, visit www.wilkins.co.uk
