A new partnership between re3 and Sue Ryder has helped raise valuable funds for people in need of care, thanks to donations made by residents.

Since March this year, household goods brought to Smallmead and Longshot Lane by local residents have been checked over and then distributed for sale via a network of ten Sue Ryder shops across Berkshire.

Over 6,000kg (six tonnes) of reusable items - mainly household furniture from cabinets and desks to beds and wardrobes - have been collected to date and passed on for sale. Initial estimates are that the sale of these items could provide up to £6,000 in this quarter for the charity which in turn help them continue to make a real difference to the quality of people’s lives.

re3 is a partnership between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils, and Waste Recycling Group (WRG).

Sandy Lunn, retail business manager for Berkshire at Sue Ryder, explained that £300 covers the daily cost of running a hospice bed and £750 pays for the equipment to help a cancer patient manage their pain. She added: "We’re delighted that re3 has chosen to support Sue Ryder in this way. To raise £6,000 in just three months is incredible; it enables us to provide expert care when and where it’s most needed."

Cllr Dorothy Hayes, chairman of re3, executive member for environment at Bracknell Forest Council, said: "This initiative has proved a great success and it is fantastic that our residents can make a difference to other people's lives with household items they no longer need going to good use and this also helps the environment at the same time."

Paul Gittings, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for environment and climate change, said: "It’s fantastic to see a well thought out project like this get off to such a great start. Residents win as they know the pieces of furniture they bring to Smallmead or Longshot Lane are put to good use and Sue Ryder win as they get to raise much needed funds for the fantastic work they do." 

Cllr Gary Cowan, Wokingham Borough Council's executive member for environment, said: "Sue Ryder carries our fantastic work and this scheme, which so far has raised thousands of pounds by recycling items that would otherwise have gone to landfill, will go to improve the real quality of life of patients in their care. I feel very proud to be associated with this scheme and I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength as our residents become more aware of it." 

Mark Tipton, general manager of re3, said: "It’s surprising how many items brought to the household waste recycling centres by the public can be reused in some way and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to make such a difference to a national care charity that has such an impact on the quality of life of so many people in the local area. 

"I hope the public will be equally pleased that so much of their discarded goods can be given a new lease of life and put to such good use through this WRG reuse initiative."

For more information on Sue Ryder and to donate unwanted items to the charity’s shops visit your local Sue Ryder shop (of which there are ten in Berkshire) or the Sue Ryder website.