A Double Win for Environment and Employment
In today’s world, sustainability is fast becoming a major point of consideration for consumers when making a purchase. Oxford Wood Recycling (OWR), are a busy social enterprise who are doing all they can to lessen the impact on our environment and give back to the local community. Their tireless work hasn’t gone unnoticed, having recently been awarded with a £250,000 award from Postcode Innovation Trust, which provides sustainable funding for social enterprises with money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Founded in 2005, Oxford Wood Recycling’s mission is to stop good post-industry wood waste from going to landfill, especially when it can be re-used. They do this whilst also providing volunteering and employment opportunities and support for people normally excluded from access to employment.
Oxford Wood Recycling works with referral partners such as SOFEA, Activate Learning and Abingdon and Witney College to support individuals to fulfil their employment objectives.
Richard Snow, founder of Oxford Wood Recycling, said: “The award from Postcode Innovation Trust has allowed us to put in place a dynamic and ambitious three-year business plan for resilience and growth when current global conditions make business planning a real challenge. We are very passionate about sustainability and for us it means paying special attention to people as well as to our environment. We hope to help prove over the next three years that values-led business, social enterprise or business with purpose – whatever you want to call it – is the key to economic success in a changing world where the light shines ever brighter on inequality and injustice. Thanks to all of the players of People’s Postcode Lottery for the support.”
The aim of Postcode Innovation Trust is to support social enterprises in Britain who wish to deliver innovative and impactful projects to their local community and beyond.
The Social Investment Programme, which this award was part of, provides a blended finance package of grant and loan that will allow Oxford Wood Recycling to continue its mission of social inclusion, giving back to the community and lessening the impact on our environment.
Show your support for Oxford Wood Recycling by visiting the woodshop in Abingdon, here you’ll find a host of locally reclaimed timber, wood and oddities suitable for a range of DIY, gardens, building and furniture projects. They also provide a wood waste collection service to local businesses and homes that not only support social and environmental responsibility but costs significantly less than a skip.