A much-loved Brighton recycling charity is to close after more than quarter of a century saving wood from landfill.
The Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project says the economic climate coupled with a lack of timber being available to recycle means it can no longer survive in the short term.
It is now asking for help in winding down the charity, which runs The Wood Store currently based in Edward Street, by the end of the year.
Its trustees said in a statement released this afternoon: “Over the past 26 years, our employees, supported by local customers and dedicated volunteers, have saved thousands of tonnes of wood from landfill or incineration and helped train hundreds of disadvantaged people improving their employment and life outcomes.
“In recent years, like many other businesses in the area, the economic climate has not been kind to us. Covid, the cost of living crisis and ongoing low consumer confidence have all taken their toll.
“The charity’s main revenue stream from recycling construction timber by preventing it going to waste and selling it for reuse or making bespoke furniture has almost disappeared.
“Timber prices have increased considerably in recent years and the construction industry has become more mindful to minimise waste – a good thing for the environment but undermining our original business model which relied on this income.
“Although we believe this may pick up again in the future we do not have sufficient reserve funds to continue operations in the short-to-mid term.
“In addition, like many charities we have always depended on council or private premises earmarked as future development for affordable sites to operate from.
“These have also become increasingly hard to find. Our ambition had been to grow revenue to a point where we could purchase a permanent site or at least afford the cost of commercial rent.
“Unfortunately, the past few years of economic uncertainty has made these ambitions impossible and our current sites are coming to the end of their lease agreements.
“Over the past few months we’ve tried to boost income, and received generous support from funders and the public, but it’s not been enough to survive.
“The Board of Trustees have therefore taken the difficult decision to wind-down the charity while we still have sufficient funds to ensure we meet all our final debts, especially payments to our loyal staff.”
It is asking people to help by:
- buy its reduced price timber
- place one final order for something it can make
- pay quickly if you owe it money
- make it an offer to purchase tooling and vehicles
- volunteer to help it wrap the charity up
All funds raised during the wind-down period will go to pay its creditors in line with charity commission regulations and to support our staff with redundancy.
We’ve bought some things from there, wood and otherwise. The staff and volunteers have always been so helpful, plus it’s saved us money. Thank you, Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project, and best of luck to you all.