The Aberdeen Reuse Community Fund from SUEZ recycling is offering grants of up to £500, with a total £5,000 available in 2024, to schools and community groups looking to make environmental and wellbeing improvements benefiting the wider community across Aberdeen.
Funded by the Reuse Shop on the Hazlehead household waste recycling centre (HWRC), the purpose of the grant is to support not-for-profit organisations with projects and initiatives which focus on improving the environment and the health and wellbeing of the wider community within Aberdeen. The HWRC and shop are operated by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK as part of the waste and recycling contract with Aberdeen City Council, with the shop selling pre-loved items for the home and garden.
The Reuse Shop, established with the support of funding from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund, officialy opened in July 2022 and has since diverted more than 120 tonnes of items away from disposal while providing good quality items at a low cost to the people of Aberdeen. With the money raised from the shop, we have been able to establish an official community fund, to ensure that the money goes back to supporting the local community.
At the end of 2023, using money raised from sales we were able to support 5 local organisations nominated by staff with grants between £300 and £500. These included Aberdeen Counselling and Information Service, Aberdeen Lads Club, Aberdeen FC ladies, Ellon & District RBL pipe band, and Camphill Wellbeing Trust.
Colin Forshaw, Production Operations Manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said, “The Reuse Shop has been a huge success, saving items from going to waste and providing good quality items at a low cost for the people of Aberdeen. We were delighted in 2023 to be able to use revenue from the shop to further support the local community with donations to good causes. This year we’re turning that support into a formal fund and we’re encouraging all not-for-profit, formally constituted community groups, schools and charities to apply so that together we can make a longer-term difference.”
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The Reuse Shop at Hazlehead HWRC has been a been a huge success. The shop has exceeded expectations in diverting reusable items out of the waste stream. The addition of the Reuse Community Fund is welcome and I look forward to seeing how it benefits the local community.”
If not already registered on the ActionFunder platform, applicants are required to sign up here. Projects that match the Aberdeen Reuse Community Fund criteria will be shortlisted and reviewed by representatives from SUEZ, with the closing date for applications 25th June 2024.
