Reuse unwanted goods with Thurrock Freecycle

Thurrock (West) Freecycle is an online reuse group run by two local volunteers, Jules Greaves and Martin Tatem, for all residents of Thurrock. Part of the worldwide Freecycle Network, our aim is help our local residents to keep useful stuff from the local landfill sites.

Our group was created in May 2006 and we now have over 2390 members and we're growing by the day.  Our aim is to reuse unwanted items we all have in our home rather than throwing them away. This helps to keep perfectly good items out of the landfill and enables us to get as much use out of them as we can until the time comes when we really have no choice but to throw them out. So, if you have items in your home that you no longer have use for then pass it on! As long as it is legal and posted for free then we can accept it.

If members have items they no longer need or want then they join our group, www.thurrockwestfreecycle.co.uk, for free, and post a message telling other members what it is they have. Other members then receive an email with the details of the offered item. All members who are interested in the item then email the person who offered the item and then the member can choose who it goes to, they then pass it on. We do allow members to ask for things too as this still reminds people of what they may have lurking in a cupboard unused somewhere, but we do limit wanted posts, because as a group, we expect members to offer more items than we ask for.

Our group is open 365 days a year, to everyone with Internet access. We never close and there is always someone on hand to help residents with any queries. We pride ourselves on the fact that we never leave anyone with questions; no matter how small they may be, to go unanswered.

We also started an online café group, like a real online community, where members of the main group can join to ask other residents for advice on recycling or any info on local causes or to advertise their local charity night or just chat to others with the same ideals which can be found here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thurrockfreecyclecafe/

If there is something someone is unsure about then the café is the place to go, along with anything we don't allow to be posted on the main group like advice on pet re-homing and personal thanks.

Our group is open to anybody. We are not only here to help the less well off members of our society, we have many members who can afford to buy new but just choose not to. We have members from local schools, businesses and lots of homeowners from all walks of life who are happy to pass on items to others and receive items to prolong the use.

We purchased a domain name for £6 for two years, (which we have just renewed) and this is www.thurrockwestfreecycle.co.uk and this is pointed to our local group homepage, which is run for free on Yahoo groups. This makes it easier when we tell possible members where to find us and we think it is money well spent!

Our group is free to join, free to use and no money changes hands, ever – you really do get something for free in our group! Yes – really!

Our members help us to spread the word too. Every month we ask if there is anyone who would like to help us by printing off a poster or flyer and having it put in a local shop window or community centre or school office foyer etc.

We have posters that members can access within the group and print off and they enjoy doing their bit to help the group, as they love being a part of it so much. We often have members' email us thanking us for starting the group and that they never throw good things out anymore, they just pass them on!

That to me is payment enough. If our members are happy then we are happy to put in the work we do for nothing, as that's what it is all about. I often refer to the group as 'our' group. Without the fantastic job our members do, we wouldn't be as successful as we are today!