A PARTNERSHIP initiative that recycles household goods has won a top industry award.
Begins a spokesperson: “Renfrewshire Council and the Kibble Education and Care Centre’s re-cycling initiative – Project OsKar – won the Local Authority Partnership category at Community Resources Network Scotland’s sixth annual awards.
“Project Oskar is part of the KibblePLUS initiative – the job training wing of the organisation that includes construction, recycling of household goods; market gardening; events management; computer servicing and repair and vehicle mechanics.
“In partnership with Renfrewshire Council’s employment training service, Renfrewshire Workforce Plus, Project OsKar trains and supervises unemployed 18 to 24 year-olds.
“Workforce Plus selects the young people for training and they receive the industry standard wages during their six-month contract.
“Project OsKar, which was launched in September, last year is on target to divert 100 tonnes of waste from having to be buried in landfill sites by collecting furniture, white goods, clothes, paper, plastic, cardboard, metal and wood for recycling from local residents.
“The initiative also cleans, decorates and fits carpets in empty council properties before being handed over to a new tenant. Renfrewshire Council also issues furniture vouchers for tenants to buy refurbished household items from Project OsKar.
“A third part of the vital work carried out by the re-cycling initiative is to provide employment and training to young people who are furthest from the jobs market.”
Renfrewshire Council leader, Derek Mackay, said: “This is a win-win for everyone. We reduce the amount of waste being put into landfill, people who need good quality household goods can get them at a much-reduced price and we are creating jobs and training for young people.”
Kibble’s chief executive, Graham Bell, added: “The job creation and training element is very important as many of the young people employed may not normally be given the chance to get themselves on the jobs ladder.
“Of 15 young people who started with Project OsKar last year, a quarter of them have already gone on to find full-time employment elsewhere.”
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