Rainbow Services Harlow

Charity Awards

'Recycling in and for the community'

‘Nothing makes you feel better than helping someone else, says Jackie Sully, chief executive, of Harlow-based outreach charity Rainbow Services. The success of the charity has proved her point. Launched in summer 2003, the project not only supports the local community – in the form of affordable recycled clothes and furniture – but also actively encourages Rainbow’s ‘reduce, re-use and recycling’ message.

Since its inception, Rainbow Services has been targeted at local people, businesses and schools in the Harlow area. Pitched as a pioneering recycling service, Sully initially commissioned specially adapted, brightly coloured electric milk floats to collect aluminium, paint, furniture and bric-a-brac in the community.

As part of their schools initiative, she and her five-strong team of volunteers produced an information pack which links recycling topics into the national curriculum and delivered these to all locally appropriate schools. More than half responded and there are now 12 recycling collection points within local schools and colleges.

Local businesses have also reacted positively. Corporate collection points, in addition to kerbside and school recycling banks, have resulted in the collection of nearly two tonnes of recyclable aluminium foil and five tonnes of bric-a-brac. More than 546 litres of paint have also been re-used and distributed.

‘The response has been way beyond our expectations,’ says Sully. ‘People really like to think they are helping someone in their community.’

Jackie Sully
Executive director
Rainbow Rooms
Latton Bush Centre
Southern Way
Harlow
Essex
CM18 7BL
01279 446659
Reg no. 1077228
www.rainbowservices.org.uk

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