New homes for unwanted electricals
With electrical items high on many people’s Christmas wish list, Forest of Dean charity, Lydney Dial A Ride, is offering a new lease of life for those working gadgets, toys and appliances soon to be replaced or upgraded.
Many charity shops are unable to accept donations of electrical items due to the prohibitive cost of PAT testing. However, Lydney Dial A Ride, which runs shops in Coleford and Cinderford as well as Lydney, has been fortunate to find an electrician who will under take the work for a fraction of the usual cost meaning that a profit can be made on the majority of items.
Lydney Dial A Ride manager, Louise Currie explains: ‘I think all charity shops are feeling the pinch from the current economic climate. Not only are donation rates falling as people are hanging on to items for longer but people also have less money to spend so being able to accept and resell electrical items is a real boost for us. The only thing we would ask is that donations are working and in a good saleable condition.’
‘Many people have electricals which they would like to see reused but it is often difficult to find someone willing to accept them, particularly smaller items. While they can be taken to the Household Recycling Centre to be disposed of responsibly too many of these perfectly good items will simply end up in bin,’ adds Cllr Martin Quaile, Portfolio Holder for the Environment at the Forest of Dean District Council. ‘By supporting Dial A Ride, we can not only benefit one of our local charities but also the environment too.’
On average, each person in the UK will purchase 3 new electrical items each year. This equates to a quarter of a million new electricals being purchased by residents in the Forest of Dean alone with most purchases being made in the run up to Christmas.
20 December 2010