Reuse and repair shop awarded £11,000 for upgrade

Project workers can repair and redistribute unwanted items such as tools and sewing machines

A "share and repair" project has been awarded £11,000 to help encourage more people to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The funding, provided by the Somerset Community Foundation, will go towards a shop refit and upgrade at the Ilminster Share and Repair Project.

Since launching in 2022, the Somerset project said it had completed more than 1,700 repairs for about 670 customers.

Sarah Hunt, director of Green Ilminster, said the grant will enable them to make "a real difference to people's lives and to the planet".

"We're incredibly grateful to Somerset Community Foundation and the Gooch Charitable Fund for supporting our next chapter," Ms Hunt said.

"This grant enables us to improve our facilities, extend our reach, and continue to deliver services."

The reuse centre has an IT drop off facility that refurbishes unwanted technology and passes it on to people in need.

Volunteers at the centre also regularly identify tools and sewing machines for redistribution.

Items in good working order that cannot be sold are donated to local families via the Ilminster Churches Together Food Bank.

Any irreparable items are recycled for components.

Sean Boland from the Somerset Community Foundation said it was "delighted to be supporting this valuable local enterprise".

"Ilminster Share and Repair is a great example of a community working together to benefit local people, whilst also reducing the impact on the planet and contributing to a more sustainable environment and economy," he said.