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From trash to treasure: the Big GIVE raises over £11,000

Some of the items collected in the Big GIVE

Some of the items collected in the Big GIVE

Press release issued: 6 July 2012

Student junk has been converted into thousands of pounds for local charities thanks to a hugely successful scheme run by volunteers at the University of Bristol. The annual Big GIVE charity collection, held at the end of term, saw students and staff donate over three tonnes of clothes, food and household items which are then reused or recycled to help others.

The annual Big GIVE charity collection, held at the end of term, saw students and staff donate over three tonnes of clothes, food and household items which are then reused or recycled to help others.

A total of 464 bags were donated to St Peter’s Hospice which, when sold in their charity shops, is the equivalent to £11,600. This will help pay for 116 patients to receive a visit by one of their 18 community nurse specialists.

Over 4,000 students were given the opportunity to take part in the scheme by bringing their unwanted clothes, shoes, food, kitchenware or household items to designated collection points around the University.

The collection specifically targeted first year students who were leaving halls of residence and moving into private accommodation, many having amassed items which they would otherwise be throwing away.

The Big GIVE was organised in partnership with the University’s Sustainability Department and volunteers through UBU Volunteering – the Students’ Union volunteering programme.

A team of three volunteers coordinated the whole process, with many more taking part in the collecting, sorting and distributing.

The campaign also meant the University donated 250kg of items to charity 16-25 Independent People, which helps to support young homeless people. A further 100kg of food was donated to the Wild Goose café in Easton to help them provide meals for those in need.

Georgina Cove, UBU Student Volunteering Coordinator, said: “It was great to see Bristol students taking the time and effort to donate to the Big GIVE. The local causes which it supports all do amazing work, ensuring that many of the items we collected will be used directly by people in need in Bristol.

“The student volunteers involved worked incredibly hard over the two days to sort huge piles of donations. Thank you to all of them, and all those who donated to the collection."

The local charities which benefitted were St Peter’s Hospice, People Can, The Salvation Army, East Bristol Food Bank and 16-25 Independent People.

Tom Penn, from the Sustainability Department at the University of Bristol, said: “The Big GIVE is extremely important to help us promote the reuse of items at the University and provide students with the opportunity to have a positive impact on their environment and the local community. Thanks to everyone involved, especially the students, volunteers and hall managers who either donated or volunteered during the event.”

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