Press notice from 10 Downing Street
Crest Co-operative, a Welsh social enterprise whose sustainable recycling business also helps those struggling to find work, is the latest Big Society Award winner.
Crest Co-operative operates a number of recycling initiatives diverting functional, household and electrical goods and food away from landfill, selling restored household items at affordable costs and distributing surplus food to homeless and vulnerable people. The process also creates employment for the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, and ex-offenders, who work in their warehouses and stores.
Since 2012, The North Wales organisation has worked to ensure in-date food does not go to waste. National and local food manufacturers donate quality surplus food to Crest Co-operative’s FareShare North Wales scheme, which is then redistributed to those who need it most. Crest Co-operative deliver the food to 28 community groups across North Wales, who then prepare meals for homeless and vulnerable people. This in turn generates employment opportunities and helps those who volunteer to develop essential skills.
In the last nine months Crest Co-operative has:
- Diverted 56 tonnes of in-date, quality food away from landfill, contributing to meals for vulnerable people at 28 community groups in North Wales.
- Diverted 69 tonnes of household items destined for landfill and restored and sold them to the public at a low cost through its community stores.
- Created 509 work placements and employment opportunities, such as workshop assistants, van driver’s assistants, retail assistants and work placements assisting adults with learning disabilities.
- Created almost 5,000 hours of volunteering opportunities
- Provided 2,391 hours of community payback.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Crest Co-operative has made a difference to a huge number of people across North Wales by making sure food which would otherwise go to waste is made available to vulnerable and homeless people. On top of this they work with unemployed people to deliver the service, helping even more people in local communities.
“Crest has an innovative and compassionate approach to tackling a range of social problems through one enterprise which really demonstrates what the Big Society can achieve. I’m pleased to be presenting Crest Co-operative with this award and hope they continue to grow and reach even more communities.”
Sharon Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of crest said:
“It is all about changing behaviour as well as perception. From a household’s point of view, it is always easier to just throw something away unless there is an easy and cost free alternative. From an unemployed person’s point of view, the longer you remain unemployed the more confidence you lose.
“Crest provides simple solutions to these issues and while these changes do not happen overnight, it is wonderful to see employees gain confidence through a work scheme, and re-integrate into the community after what is often a very long struggle”, says Mrs Jones.
Ann Bland, former volunteer at Crest who was unemployed for six years after illness now has permanent employment in one of their stores. She said: “At Crest it was different. They didn’t just look at my disability, they could see the person.”