Wastesavers

Wastesavers is a social enterprise and charity based in South East Wales, with a focus on environmental, social and economic sustainability. It was set up as an environmental project in 1985 and today runs recycling services for 75,000 residents in Newport and also has a number of charity projects, with 100 staff across its services.

The charity focuses on three things - alleviating poverty by providing household items, electrical items and renovated IT items to those in need, education in the community about the importance of recycling and reuse, and offering teenagers who are struggling in mainstream schooling an alternative education that gives them numeracy, literacy and practical skills.

Wastesavers has a network of nine reuse shops across Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys, where individuals and companies can donate unwanted household, electrical and IT items. This not only stops them going to landfill but helps those who are struggling financially, while staff and volunteers gain vital skills restoring them. A digital training programme runs alongside to ensure everyone is IT literate. With many connections to other support services they regularly donate items to people in crisis.

The charity also worked with the Men’s Shed club that meets at its depot to provide online IT training and empower members to feel more confident using the internet.