OUR STORY
Get Rid of and Donate supports the reduction of landfill waste and suppresses the economic and environmental impacts of usable unwanted items donated and redistribute to people in need. Our local hubs in communities support with outreach support, food bank distribution, and assisting our service user groups directly who have greatly benefited by providing immediate assistance with living essentials recycled from unwanted items.
GROAD community hubs are located in Southwark & Lambeth boroughs to improvised areas that are local and accessible reducing the carbon footprint by means of vehicle pollution, our services reduce its impact by recycling, being cost-effective by minimising building consumption and practices by all who support the project. Our volunteers and the community support all of our recycling project incentives. looking at practical ways to save the environment.
Currently, the project operates in Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham using spaces of local schools, sports clubs and partnered with community centers with food banks to receive donations of pre-loved items and host an ‘Open House’ that invites people and families to attend and help themselves to donations, the aim to reuse and give items a longer life span of good conditioned items, hence the minimise of waste and overpopulating landfill sites.
Make no mistake: in Lambeth and Southwark, the average household disposes
Encouragingly efforts are being made, at least by the local authorities with whom Get Rid of and Donate is partnering, to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills – by prioritising recycling which can significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Unwanted items including furniture and household goods, electrical appliances, clothes, shoes, books, music and more can be donated through a recycling model.
Typically this is done through a charity shop but lockdown wardrobe clear-outs have flooded many stores, while others aren’t accepting second-hand donations due to additional staff demands and increased health and safety precautions.
This is where GROAD collects unwanted domestic items and redistributes them to those living on or below the poverty line. A range of factors including low pay, rising living costs, lack of work, family break-ups, and inadequate social security benefits means many Londoners simply do not have enough resources.
GROAD’s working relationship with community care services, including social and outreach intervention agencies, as well as homeless charities and refugee/asylum centers are always on the lookout for items refer clients to our services for particular needs.
“Our strategy involves working with local and mainstream stakeholders such as Streetlink, Crisis, Centrepoint, Mayor of London and Local authorities to help the disadvantaged in our community while simultaneously diminishing environmental impacts.”
Here's what our regular volunteers have to say
“I am very fortunate to be a regular volunteer at Get Rid of and Donate (GROAD) for several months and look forward to Sunday afternoons when I can step out of my regular routine and focus on others. My time volunteering at GROAD over the last three months has been rewarding and eye-opening. There is great satisfaction in being a part of Get Rid of and Donate team and getting to know community members, knowing in some small way I have contributed to more effective use of resources in our community and allowing me to share encouragement with others who are facing difficult trials. The experience has also enabled me to meet a wide range of others who simply want to help.
On a weekly basis, we meet at a designated location and receive donations from community members. We sort and organise the items into piles, including women's clothes & men's clothes, items specifically for rough sleepers, children's toys, and items for the refugee open house. There are days when we can't keep up with all the donations coming in. Finding storage space can sometimes be a challenge, we ensure that the items are readily available for people who need them.
Thank you Get Rid of and Donate for everything you do!”
- Kathryn Robinson - Dulwich
“I love meeting the people who come to get the clothes and helping them find what they want.”
- Stephanie - Herne Hill
“Volunteering with Get Rid of it and Donate is very rewarding. I feel like I am making a difference to other people’s lives.”
Bridget - Dulwich