Building schools for the future

So the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme is gathering some pace across the UK as more and more schools are approved by the Government to under go refurbishment or complete rebuild. But what does this really mean, well it is set to be the biggest government programme, spreading over 15 years and regenerating around 21,000 faculties.

Undoubtedly the government’s rebuilding and refurbishment plans will change the face of education, but is anyone thinking about the issues that may come out of it...I mean the issue of WASTE...especially furniture and equipment - some of which will no doubt be in great condition.

Luckily Green-Works is thinking about this issue - let take a look at the figures:

• 3500 secondary schools being refurbished @ min 35 tonnes of furniture each = 122500 tonnes
  
• 17000 primary schools being refurbished /refreshed @ av 12 tonnes each = 204,000
  
• 400 academies being refurbished @ 25 tonnes = 10,000
  

Meaning during the next fifteen years we predict there will be more than 336,500 (1/3 million) tonnes of furniture scrapped as the thousands of rebuilding and refurbishing projects are completed...Wow!

But it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom - this can also provide an opportunity for schools to make a difference both at home and overseas and through the simple act of ensuring their redundant items are conscientiously removed and redistributed rather than just sent to landfill, schools can make an immeasurable difference to our environment and the lives of people both at home and in the developing world.

Ashford Christ Church school in Kent have already benefited from this idea as they used Green-Works to remove their item which were then donated to the Waterloo project, aiming to rebuild and develop the schools in the Waterloo region of Sierra Leone. Their unused items have been split across 5 schools and made a great difference to the children and teachers out there. You can see a video on our website showing just how excited and pleased they are to receive such items.

So to sum up - As the BSF scheme changes the face of our education system, it'stime to think about what comes out of these schees not just want goes in, and in doing so you can change the faces of others by providing vital equipment that you don't need anymore.

To learn more about Green-Works education service; the overseas programme or anything else we do visit http://www.green-works.co.uk/

Welcome to the Green-Works Blog

First off - Welcome to the Green-Works blog.

Who are Green-Works I hear you cry??
Green-Works are an environmental charity and social enterprise who divert office and school furniture from landfill.

Why do we want it?
Because it is normally in great condition and fully functioning to last for many more years in someone else's office who couldn't afford to buy the same high quality items at new prices.

What do we do with it?
Through our unique programme the furniture gets

• Reused: items are sold at a fraction of their market value especially to help other charities, community and volunteer groups, small businesses and start-ups - but anyone is welcome to it.
  Our reuse arm also donates furniture across the developing world to help rebuild communities -we have been working very hard in Sierra Leone to rebuild schools as 49% of the population is under 16!
  
• Re-manufactured: Our in-house joinery team cut down large pieces of furniture to make original items from 98% recycled material! we have desks, bookcases and our lovely cubes!
  
• Recycled: We aim to reuse as much as possible - wood, screws, material, foam - anything! but there is always going to be some things that are either better off being recycled or we simply can't do anything more with, but we can make sure they get recycled in the correct way.
  

Why don't we want it going to Landfill?
Around 350-400,000 tonnes of furniture ends up at landfill each year and as you can imagine this is just not sustainable, takes up lots of room and damages the environment - which is unneccessary when others can benefit from it!

What else happens at Green-Works?
Well due to the way we handle our furniture and the processess taken - we can provide training and employment opportunities. All 4 Green-Works sites are based in deprived areas so we can help both the area and the people in it.

So you see - our aim is zero waste and support in the community...get on board and see how green really works!

Do you wat to find out more? Visit our website www.green-works.co.uk

We are also on twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn