EVESHAM: Freecycle website is making a difference (From Worcester News)

EVESHAM: Freecycle website is making a difference

12:07pm Friday 13th October 2006 in

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WHEN two women from Lower Moor and South Littleton, near Evesham, met, they decided to change the lives of thousands of people in the county and also make a difference to the environment.

Freecycle is a web-based service that allows users to give away unwanted items for free. With more than 1,000 members in Evesham and Pershore, it instills a sense of generosity of spirit and strengthens community ties.

The Freecycle concept was conceived in May 2003 by Deron Beal, of Tucson, Arizona,US, who e-mailed around 30-40 friends and a handful of charitable organisations.

Sarah Cohen, aged 55, of Lower Moor, a keen environmentalist, liked the idea so much that she decided to set up a branch of the Freecycle Network herself.

"I joined the Malvern group and thought it was a great idea but unfortunately it didn't work out for me. Every time someone wanted my items they were really put off by the distance they had to travel. So I thought why not create another branch of Freecycle here in Lower Moor."

Mrs Cohen, who is a full-time massage therapist, launched the Evesham and Pershore branch in February. She said: "We've had some unusual requests placed on the website, with one young girl asking for a Flat B trumpet on Saturday morning and by that afternoon she had got one.

"We've had someone place kitchen units on the website that were snapped up, a doctor's couch was another, which is all great as nothing gets thrown away."

Mary Neilsen, 56, of South Littleton, works alongside Mrs Chen, helping her moderate the website.

"It is helping hundreds of people across the Vale of Evesham, " she said. "It is ideal for those on a low income and for others who simply want to get rid of items they've had for years. But most importantly, it prevents items from being thrown away which eventually end up in landfill sites."

For Mrs Cohen, recycling holds much importance: "I live right opposite the Hill and Moor landfill site so I have a visual reminder every day of the impact of throwing away items that can easily be recycled," she added.

Supported by Worcester-shire County Council, Freecycle is open to all who want to recycle items that are still usable. For details go to freecycle.org.uk