Link-up will help refugees settle in
Two local organisations are joining forces in a bid to make helping those in need easier.
Forth Valley Welcome and Transition Stirling’s new Reuse Hub have recently partnered up to ensure that New Scots (a term used for refugees in Scotland) are set up with everything that they need to feel at home in a new country.
As of the new agreement, Forth Valley Welcome will be able to store items with the Reuse Hub as well as having increased access to the items available to new families.
Opened in March 2022, the Reuse Hub is a retail space that sells second-hand items, hosts workshops and offers free spaces for artists and Diyers to work on their upcycling projects.
Their aim is to reduce the vast volumes of items that end up in landfills, and instead inspire people to give second-hand another chance. Customers are also able to peruse the online website for a peek at some of the pieces on offer, and from June will have access to a new repair service.
Since the Reuse Hub’s launch, they have managed to save around 40 tonnes of ‘waste’ from landfills.
Stirling residents are encouraged to get involved in the Reuse Hub’s upcoming campaign, ‘Buy nothing new for June’ and can sign up via Facebook and even volunteer as part of the team.
A local charity based in Stirling and Clackmannanshire, Forth Valley Welcome aims to help New Scots settle into their new communities, providing numerous services such as English language support, befriending schemes and helping with material needs. The Reuse Hub proves an invaluable part of this process in allowing New Scots the dignity to choose their own things, whilst achieving their aim of reducing waste.
Kate Hamilton, manager of the Reuse Hub, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Forth Valley Welcome. We value the support that they provide to refugees as they start a new life in Stirling.
It is an honour to be able to redirect some of Stirling’s kind donations to Forth Valley Welcome to ensure that everyone has access to the items that they need to feel safe and comfortable within their new homes.”
She added: “We would also like to thank everyone that has donated or shopped with us. Without your kind contributions this partnership would not be possible.”
Forth Valley Welcome’s manager Rebecca Dadge said: “We have been looking for a better way to manage furniture we give to New Scots for some time and think this partnership with Transition Stirling’s Reuse hub is going to be much better way of working and we are looking forward to working with them.”
To learn more about the Reuse Hub go to: https://www.transitionstirling.org. uk/reuse-hub
To learn more about Forth Valley Welcome go to: https://www. forthvalleywelcome.org/