GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

This planet isn’t ours -it doesn’t belong to any one of us and certainly any one of us more than another. We’re simply here for a while and trusted to take care of it as best we can. We are stewards of the planet, and my greatest hope would be that we could leave our shared world in a better place environmentally than we found it – and decisions that we make daily impact on that. 

One of the more daunting challenges we face is to change the broad mind set so that what our society considers as waste is instead considered a resource and as little as possible is wasted.  Small changes like switching a light switch off, using biomass heating, turning a heater down, and being economical with how much paper we are using all help; but so do making environmentally and financially sensible decisions in our homes and businesses. 

I blogged recently about seeing the value of waste, but to kick start this, we require a change in mind set in order to fuel a change in behaviour - so that all of us can hopefully realise the benefits of using and re-using things to our collective advantage. 

So we should shop ethical, buy local and consider charity shops when furnishing our homes…after all they do say charity begins at home…and here are my top 5 reasons as to why…

1.       Giving a Little Back…

In a different way than popping your pennies in a tin, shopping in charity shops helps you give something back, and sometimes directly to the area in which you live and work. The number one, irrefutable reason to spend your money in such a way that it goes toward transforming lives should be pretty self-evident – by spending on what you’d spend anyway in a certain place – you can change lives. It makes you feel good; but it unquestionably makes a difference to others too.

2.       The Planet Will Thank You…

Every pre-owned piece you buy in a social enterprise, charity or community shop is another thing saved from languishing in landfill.  We are all guilty of chucking out things of value because they have become dated -from food waste to furniture, in our homes and at work. Deciding to substitute a trip to Ikea for (ahem...) one to New Start Highland for instance when furnishing your home means that you can rest assured that most, if not all, of the pieces have been awarded a second life. UK charity shops' reuse activity alone helps reduce CO2 emissions by about 7.3m tonnes every year, meaning your can be proud of what you’re doing for your carbon footprint every time you walk out of the door having made a purchase.

3.       Surely Charity Doesn’t Mean Quality??

If you bought a piece of furniture from a reuse store– say a chair, side board or even bed, you will often be getting a higher quality item, because you are avoiding mass made, substandard less pricey furniture– usually priced as such because quality is compromised. Your piece is higher quality, it looks better and it lasts longer. The only hurdle you have to cross is that it’s not brand new. But where does that sentiment come from? It raises the question of why we buy what we buy all together.

One of the things we need to do is turn away from the thought that shops that are selling pre-owned furniture and household items are just down market charity shops, full of someone else’s junk, or bumf that people don’t want to carry on. It is a fairly daft sentiment when you think about it. We don’t have that frame of mind when we buy a car or a home. More often than not it was once someone else’s and we’re happy with that, in fact we barely even think twice about it. And it happens even closer to home than that. Think even of the water that comes out of your tap for instance? Or the plastic bottle you would fill it in to. We are constantly using and reusing things in life, why must we think differently when furnishing a home?

4.       It’s Great Value!

Salvaging furniture from the skip needn’t just be an exercise in doing good for the planet and for your fellow planet dwellers. What strikes me is that it also makes great basic business sense– less time and resources to buy new = less money spent! Simple.

5.       It’s ‘in’

Creative re-use in the New Start Highland office

Say what you want about my fashion sense…buying green is ‘in’…and I know this not because I’m an avid follower of what’s in vogue, but you can’t help but notice the trend when it’s under your nose. Said trend for the upscale of furniture has even made its way to the New Start Highland office, with some of the team reclaiming bits and pieces otherwise destined for landfill , making them their own, and even coming up with unique storage solutions while they’re at it.  Call it reclaimed, retro, vintage or upcycled – being able to flex your creative muscle and have a piece that is unique at the same time is proving a popular way of furnishing your home. Charity shops are a brilliant place to rummage around to find things that you could sand down, paint up and make your own, especially if you have an eye for potential masterpieces.  

So there you have it – 5 top reasons to consider charity/ re-use shops for furniture… and build yourself a green home.

FINDING UN-MET NEED AND MEETING IT

If someone can’t afford food, they likely can’t afford something to cook it on, to refrigerate it, to eat it on or to eat with. 

If someone can’t find a home to call their own, they likely can’t afford the luxury of a good night’s sleep in their own bed.

I have made clear before my thoughts that Welfare Reform and benefit cuts are inextricably linked to the surging use of food banks in the UK, with my particular concern of course being Scotland. As well the leap in sanctions being given out unjustifiably - driving more and more people into destitution. 

It has been in the news pretty consistently for the last few weeks that 1 million people and counting in the UK have used Trussell Trust food banks in the past year – almost treble the amount from the previous year. This news comes as we are being told that 1 in 5 children in Scotland live in poverty, with some of the worst of the stats being pinned to the Highlands. In my mind, it is no coincidence that this demoralising picture is painted alongside huge cuts being made to benefits and a sharp spike being seen in the dealing out of benefit sanctions by the job centre. It was reported recently by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau that they’ve seen a 60% rise in people seeking advice as a result of this.

The CAB offer free, impartial advice to an increasing number of people

The chief executive of CAB, Gillian Guy, relates this to the rise in sanctions:

 "The minimum four-week sanction is setting people up to fail and creating a barrier which can stop them from looking for work. Four weeks is a long time to go without money to get by and people are struggling to make ends meet.

"The success rate of sanction appeals reveals a culture of 'sanction first and ask questions later'. This is not only ineffective and a huge waste of money but also has a devastating effect on thousands of people's lives.

"To date, work programme contractors have been responsible for twice as many sanctions on the people referred to them as they have successfully helped people find work. Combined with CAB's latest figures this paints the strongest picture yet that the system is not working as it should."

To me this all suggests that there is a major part of our society whose needs are not being met by the current measures in place by the UK government to counteract poverty and to get people into work. But we didn’t need statistics to shine a light on this. 

A huge driving force behind our work at New Start Highland is identifying un-met need and specifically hidden poverty and hidden homelessness the area. If you live in Inverness, it’s true you’re unlikely to see anywhere close to the numbers of people on the street and in alleyways of the bigger cities with no home to go back to. This might suggest that homelessness and poverty isn’t a problem. But it is, although one that is swept away from public view. 

What about families stuck in temporary accommodation? Or sheltered housing? Often living with many others in the same situation, and often for much longer than they would care too. For whom benefit cuts, sanctions and unemployment just provide extra barriers to living the life many of us take for granted. Then there are those who are facing hardship but are unsure where to turn or that don’t fit into a specific bracket where help is available. This is what we see as un-met need and a huge part of identifying this un-met need is in linking with other organisations in the area who might be in a better place to encounter it. It is crucial that we seek as many opportunities as we can to address this need, and ensure better outcomes for all people who use our services. 

New Start Highland is a promising solution to poverty in the area, but in this day and age, we still need to help forge routes toward that solution.  Just last week in fact, we have opened our doors to representatives from the community including charity and church workers who may see poverty first hand. We put on a tour and info session for representatives here at New Start Highland to see how we could work with these people. In particular, to refer people in need of furniture, electrical and essential items i.e something to eat with, sleep on, sit on or cook with.These are things that many of us take for granted but for many something that cannot be afforded or accessed elsewhere. It is hoped that as a result, more people can find the support that is available in the face of the issues that are presenting themselves as a result of welfare cuts, and for which a real need is apparent. 

While the reasons behind towering poverty statistics run deeper than what charity can do, to work well charities must be innovative and shift to match the political landscape. We are more than a charity; New Start Highland is a very dynamic social enterprise. In the 14 years since our inception, we have done fantastic things for thousands of people, and supported people into becoming their own solution to the problems they face, and stop themselves from falling into a cycle of poverty. However, where a need exists for basic measures to stem poverty, we are still equipped to help.  It is to present ourselves as the solution – not just to their immediate needs, but to a fuller, happier life that is always going to be our focus. 

So consider that where someone can’t afford food and is forced to use a food bank, and while this is sad and shocking– it also suggests that there are likely a whole host of issues that face them, head on, waiting to manifest themselves as poverty.

For more information on New Start Highland and what we do, please visit:
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A CYCLING CITY

The city of Inverness has great potential to take its place on the world stage in promoting cycling as a healthy way of transport. Healthy not just for the populous but also for the pocket as well as the planet – I have long been an advocate of the benefits of the bike. 

Having a chat with Drew Hendry this week about the Highland Council’s support for increasing cycling in Inverness has really got me looking forward to the improvements to the arterial cycle lanes. The city has great potential and recently Inverness has been given a leg up toward becoming a cycling city and various cycling clubs, events and dedicated individuals are to be credited for that. A vision for Inverness to stand comfortably alongside European cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen and be seen as a city that’s actively encouraging its residents towards their bikes is a vision that I am very much on board with and would love to see be realised. 

At New Start Highland, nestled in among our vast furniture re-use service, our award-winning training and support services and our continually expanding facilities management – New Start Bikes, New Start Highland’s bike project and workshop, is doing fantastic, often under-estimated work in helping to realise this vision. So far the bike project, which receives donations of pre-owned bikes, has saved over 2500 bikes from the landfill site and put them back on the road. The public can get quality bikes at affordable prices making cycling accessible to everyone, irrespective of age, ability or budget. 

Beyond this however, and because it also acts as a training facility, New Start Bikes has a remarkable track record in getting people into employment. People facing long term unemployment have developed skills and experience that have led to them gaining qualifications and as a result, moving on to full time work. Finally, perfectly demonstrating the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ that we aim to hit – every penny that is earned from the bike project is reinvested into transforming Highland lives.

New Start Bikes'  "Build a Bike Workshop"

Value for money or what!

New Start Highland however, isn’t the only organisation doing great things for the local cycling scene. 

Events like the Strathpuffer, which has been running for a number of years, and Etape, taking place in May, put our area on the cycling map. It has been well documented that with events like these, a real boost is realised for the local economy, with cyclists from all over the place coming to enjoy the unique terrain that the Highlands have to offer. 

The area is definitely beginning to catch the bike bug; especially in the social enterprise sector as organisations like Velocity café and Transition Black Isle are promoting cycling in a fun, accessible and sustainable way. A little further a-field in Cantray, the Highland Cycle Ability Centre, which calls itself “Scotland’s first dedicated cycling facility for people with physical and learning disabilities,” has been making its cycling track available to schools, community groups and disabled and able bodied cycling clubs for a year now since it opened in the wake of GB and specifically Scottish cycling success in the 2012 Olympics. 

Stuart Black, myself and Drew Hendry - on our bikes!

With cycling stars like Chris Hoy inspiring a whole host of young Scottish cyclists and the commonwealth games just around the corner, the time couldn’t be better to get out on your bike. I know I’ve taken my own advice and managed to get out a fair bit lately and I’m feeling all the better for it.

THE VALUE OF WASTE

I was watching BBC breakfast over my morning cuppa the other day and a story caught my eye that was explaining the benefits of a ‘rubbish’ shop (i.e a shop which sold on what others have thrown out.)  The story was in light of new figures that claim £400 million worth of waste is thrown into landfill each year – much of which could be rescued, revamped and resold. It struck me as interesting that people are getting on board with something, that in Inverness, we are well ahead of the game with.  

I notice initiatives, most clearly by charity shops but also by larger retailers, trying to play their part in proving the adage that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. (For instance, Marks and Spencers, who have huge clothes re-use programme.) 

However, waste can have a much bigger value. 

an example of some of our up-scaling work

What New Start Highland do, and what is at the thrust of our enterprise, is taking waste that would otherwise be dumped – and using it as a mechanism to deliver social and environmental benefit to the Highlands.

When you are chucking something out you might ring up the council first (which would cost you £20 for a pick up to begin with.) Then it would be smushed up and thrown into landfill. (Which we all know isn’t the smartest action when it comes to being aware of environmental impact.) If though, you gave New Start Highland a call, we would collect free of charge, we’d apply some TLC and we’d put it back to use. Whether it’s an old washing machine, chest of drawers or arm chair we can tidy up and refurbish household items, breathing new life into your ‘junk’ and into your own community. When something is thrown out of your home, it shouldn’t be thrown out of your consciousness. 

George Fraser, Chief Executive ofTulloch Homes and myself

The brilliant part about this is that the vast majority (close to 75%) of what is donated to us gets given out to people in the Highlands who find themselves in poverty, often through no fault of their own. They sometimes can’t otherwise afford or access something to sit on, sleep on or eat with.  Things that most of us take for granted. 

The remainder gets sold on through retail outlets, which means we can make available quality, affordable pieces of furniture to everybody in the area. Something we all look for and something for which New Start Highland are unsurpassed in the area. 

This process follows suit with anyone who donates to us. Whether you are clearing a house or you’re part of a business, why not follow the example of people and places such as the Kingsmills, Tulloch Homes and Robertson Homes and hundreds of individuals and think of a more ethical approach to reuse. 

So my challenge to you this week, is to think more broadly when it comes to recycling. While putting your cans in a coloured bin and avoiding carrier bags at the supermarket all have their place in making positive actions for the environment, consider that through ethical re-use, your pre owned items could have a much farther and deeper reach.  

handing over a cooker

We’re proud to do our part in creating environmental change. Our flagship store one of the first in Scotland to be ‘Revolve Reuse’ accredited and we also have a Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Award for ‘Excellence in Environmental Sustainability’ from SCDI (Scottish Council for Development in Industry.) Not only are we incredibly fortunate to be able to deliver lasting social impact through waste, we’re proud to create it in partnership with you.