Scrapstores and resource centres are usually community led organisations that accept materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill. These unused materials from local industry and businesses are normally new and unused off-cuts of raw materials or manufacturing seconds.

ScrapstoresUK’s is the latest charity to pledge its support for The Big Lunch. With 90 scrapstores across the UK there is a bounty of scrap materials just waiting to be put to good use to decorate the thousands of Big Lunch events across the UK on the 3^rd of June 2012.

Gary King, Chair of scrapstoresUK said: “ScrapstoresUK is calling upon the 80,000 community group members of scrapstores across the UK to join in with this wonderful expression of community togetherness and visit your local scrapstore to make sure your Big Lunch is spectacular!”

This year our Big Bunting  Competition for schools and community groups is to create the longest and most interesting bunting chain and scrapstores are on hand to make sure that entrants to the competition are able to access a wealth of materials in all shapes, colours and textures that include fabric, foam, paper and plastic. The Big Lunch team and scrapstoresUK can’t wait to see the end results!

Scrapstores also play an important role in educating the general public in ‘reuse’ and how it differs from ‘recycling’: there is no costly, transportation or processing with reuse, instead materials tend to stay local. ScrapstoresUK and those within the scrapstore network are helping to change a generation’s attitude towards production, consumption and waste.

Every scrapstore, is run by a small but committed group of people many or all of which are volunteers which is why scrapstoresUK’s support is so important. That is why the charity scrapstoresUK was created: to share the network’s knowledge, to support, connect and promote scrapstores with a common voice.

ScrapstoresUK is to help scrapstores increase their membership, supplies of scrap and funding to ensure their sustainability. To find your nearest scrapstore or to support us by promoting scrapstores, become a member or donating: time, money or scrap resources, visit: www.scrapstoresuk.org