Posts

Local community group Reuse Littleborough has been granted charity status after two unsuccessful applications.

The outcome came just days after the group’s move to a new venue in Littleborough this month, with a meeting of trustees following the week after.

Reuse Littleborough exists to provide an eco-friendly solution to prevent people from throwing perfectly usable items away and help those in need, such as women fleeing violence, the homeless, those discharged from long-term hospital care, the elderly, asylum seekers and refugees.

Reuse Littleborough has moved premises after five years at the ‘Hub that was a Pub’ in the village centre.

The eco-friendly cause reopened at its new venue – 111 Church Street – on Monday 2 October, after closing the hub at the former Royal Oak Hotel on Saturday 23 September.

Reuse’s new venue is a newly refurbished shop with central heating, laminated flooring and more space than the former pub.

Wearing my regimental tie (and some important cufflinks ) to dinner held by the Parachute Regiment at the Rochdale Masonic Ballroom.

I was invited as recognition of our assistance in helping veterans that have fallen on hard times, we are so glad to be able to help in any way we can.

The food was superb & the welcome heart warming – thank you for having me!

Local community organisation Reuse Littleborough has submitted its third bid to become a registered charity.

The Reuse Littleborough Hub in the centre of Littleborough exists to provide an eco-friendly solution to prevent people from throwing perfectly usable items away.

The group was originally started eight years ago after Michael Bamford noticed a discrepancy between the waste we have in our country and those in need in poorer countries.

It began with an online post, asking for donations of unwanted baby items to send to the Forever Angels Baby Home in Tanzania and grew into a larger movement, with the main hub in Littleborough, a second-hand baby and children’s clothing shop and a resource centre for support workers, helping the likes of women fleeing violence, the homeless, those discharged from long-term hospital care, the elderly, asylum seekers and refugees.

The team also helps supports many other local needs, such as the Rochdale Foodbank and the Red Box Project, and collects used ink cartridges and used batteries.

Reuse Littleborough first applied for charitable status in 2018, but has thus far been unsuccessful.

Michael said: “Our application for charity status has now been submitted for the third time.

“I still find it difficult to understand why our previous applications have failed, but I’m sure the Charity Commission have good reason, and it may be that we have not explained our aims properly.

“During our launch, the then-Mayor Councillor Zaman spoke of a time when every town would have a Reuse. The concept was quite simple: the first port of call for anything of quality that is no longer needed or wanted should not be the local tip. Instead, it could be collected, cleaned, maybe restored and offered to a local family who have nothing, or very little, as identified by professionals.

“Anything deemed non-essential to a family setting up home could be sold to pay for overheads. This has worked perfectly well now for five years and is running smoothly. We are self-funded and volunteer led, and have got it to a fine art. We pay no wages; never ask for your hard-earned money; never have a tin rattled with our name on and survive by selling donations in our local hub.

“The hub is far more than just another charity shop, the locals love it and has become an integral part of our community. Our volunteers work very hard and are very passionate about our aims.”

He added: “We have had massive support from our Facebook group which has over 8,000 members.

“As a registered charity, we will have a board of trustees that will confirm every decision we take and be open and transparent to all.”

Following the Accession of King Charles III, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service will now become The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

We are delighted to have been nominated for the 2023 award and are eagerly awaiting the announcement on 14th November!

Local organisation Reuse Littleborough has donated a specialist chair worth thousands of pounds to Jolly Josh – just days after the Castleton children’s charity added one to their wish list.

Read more HERE

We sponsored the Sandbrook Primary School to provide a Christmas party for years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

All the kids had a wonderful time

And the feedback from the staff is heart warming,

Founded in October 2015 by Michael Bamford, 70, the group has grown from filling a 40ft container to send to children in need in Tanzania into a fully-operational hub and charity shop.

Read more HERE

Reuse Littleborough have sponsored the training tops for the two Littleborough Juniors under 10’s teams (Yellows & Blues) ensuring that all 22 players will be warm whilst playing this autumn and winter.

Thank you to the Rochdale Rotary for the invitation to speak at tonight’s weekly dinner at the Golf club. I was made very welcome and enjoyed a lovely meal.

The presentation showed our humble beginnings and how it’s grown into the monster it now is. It all began as a way of getting your unwanted baby stuff to some children and babies in desperate need – 3 containers later and it was all so worthwhile. The staff, children and babies at Forever Angel’s baby home in Tanzania all benefitted from your donations,

Then the help we give to local groups with little or no budgets keeps them going,

The Resource Centre is helping families that are struggling especially women fleeing violence and getting kids up off the floor into a warm bed,

The help for new mums identified by midwives on the Maternity Ward as likely to be taking a newborn home to very little.

And all the disability stuff that keep coming in and soon go out again.

Afterwards there were so many interesting questions that I was happy to address.

I enjoyed the evening, no one was asleep .

Thinking most went away wiser .