WILTSHIRE Scrapstore & Resource Centre has taken delivery of a second-hand van to replace its current 22-year-old vehicle.

The van was donated to the Lacock charity by Chippenham-based GreenSquareAccord housing group following an approach for help.

The award-winning environmental and community charity at Bowden Hill, Lacock, collects resources that would otherwise go to landfill and redistributes them for creative activities and projects of all kinds, from arts and crafts to DIY.

Glynis Cosgrave, assistant director of Wiltshire Scrapstore, said: “We operate with two vans, the oldest of which is now 22 years old and very much on its last legs having been purchased when the charity began.

“We desperately needed to replace this van and greatly appreciate GreenSquareAccord’s help in doing so.

“Our charity and many of the community groups and schools depend on our ability to reach out to all of Wiltshire, whether it’s saving materials from landfill or delivering much needed workshops.”

Jane Wheeler, Wiltshire Scrapstore director, added: “All of our materials are collected from businesses providing a free recycling opportunity for unwanted surplus – avoiding landfill and giving the materials a second greatly-appreciated life. “We are so grateful for GreenSquareAccord’s support of our charity with this incredible donation of one of their fleet vans, which was serviced free of charge by GS Energy Services Ltd in West Bromwich.

“It will make a tremendous difference to us and will be used over the summer to deliver 500 summer craft activity boxes to families on low income.”

One of the charity’s members, Sonia Carr, suggested they contact GreenSquareAccord for help and the group donated a fully refurbished and serviced van from its fleet to hand over on Wednesday (June 9).

Ruth Cooke, chief executive officer at GreenSquareAccord, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support Wiltshire Scrapstore in this way. It’s a local charity that does such brilliant work.

“Their reuse of materials not only stops them going to landfill but encourages creativity and is so enjoyed by many people in the area through workshops and distribution in the community.”

Dave Woodward, GreenSquareAccord’s fleet and facilities manager, said: “Although it’s being retired from our fleet where vehicles are in constant use and run up high mileage, this van has plenty of life left in it and we hope it will be a real asset to the Scrapstore.

The reuse of this vehicle seems like a good fit with what the Scrapstore is all about.”

Wiltshire Scrapstore works very closely with community groups such as GreenSquareAccord and carries out many funded workshops targeting single parent families.

Mrs Cosgrave added: “Our charity and many community groups and schools depend on our ability to reach out to all of Wiltshire, whether it’s saving materials from landfill or delivering much-needed workshops.”