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Brixton Reuse Centrea platform for local reuse and enterprise development

Our purpose:

Toactivateapassionatecommunityof venturescreatingproductsandopportunitiesfromwaste.

Toprovidealocalone-stopshopfortherescue,repairandreinventionof wasteasaresource.

Topilotandshowcaseinnovativeapproachestoreusethatareinspiringandwidelyreplicable.

How does BRC work?

BRC offers a springboard for the development of local reuse enterprises, by providing:

Workspacewithreadyaccesstomaterials,aretailoutletanddistributionnetwork;

Accesstoexpertiseandcollaborativenetworksinthefieldsof reuseandsocialenterprise.

As a result, local residents, businesses and community organisations benefit from:

Aone-stopshopforredirectingwasteitemstonewuses(throughBRCandwidernetworks);

Arangeof affordable,qualityreusedproductsandmaterials;

Employment,trainingandvolunteeringopportunities,buildingthelocalskillbase.

The diagram above provides an overview of BRCs operations and the resulting flow of waste to enterprise.

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BRC Members and Products

Theenterpriseslistedbelowaremembersof theBRCSteeringGroup(foundedJune2010)orhaveexpressedinterestinbecomingmembersofBRC.

Enterprise Waste Materials Used Products and Services

Art4Space Tilesandceramics Mosaicartworksforcommunity,school,corporateandprivatecommissions,

participatoryworkshops

Comm-Tech(CommunityTechnology)

Computers,ITequipment ITreuse,repairsandrecycling

CycooldelicRevolution Bicycles,bicycleparts,wood

Bicyclerepairsandtraining,biketrailersanddeliveryservices,pedal-poweredgenerators,bikeart

FurnitureRescue Furniture Furniturerepairsandrefurbishment

IkosiCreations Clothes,householdgoods Secondhandproductsalesandrepairs

Husbua&Wifeke Woodandplasticscrapfrommanufactureandexhibitions

Furniture,lamps,accessories

MagnificentRevolution Bicycles Pedal-poweredenergy,events(screenings,soundsystems),trainingworkshops

RemadeinBrixton Packaging,paint,buildingmaterials

Scrapstoreforcommunity/artprojects,leisurelearningworkshops,DesignLab(withacademicandcreativepartners)

Re-PianoProject Pianos,electronics,textiles,miscellaneousscrap

Participatorysoundartworks

SewinStudio Textiles Quilting,patchwork,basicandcreative

sewingworkshopsSouthLondonPapermakingCo-operative

Paper,scrap,plantmaterials Art,greetingscards,paper-makingworkshops(leisureandtherapeutic)

TransitionTownBrixtonFoodandGrowingGroup

Scaffoldingplanks,pallets,buildersbags,tools,flowerpots

Raisedbeds,growingcontainers,compostcontainers,toolandequipmentexchange

TreecycleWoodRecyclingProjectLtd

Wood,woodproducts Timberforconstruction,furniture,gardenfurniture,compostbins,birdhouses,chickencoops,firewood,mulch

Someenterprisesarestart-ups,butasurveyof thosealreadyoperatingindicatesthatinthetwo

yearsbetweenApr2009Mar2011,theyreusedatleast42tonnesof materials,including11.8tonnesof textiles,1tonneofbicycles,9.2tonnesof householditems,and20tonnesof computers.

The creation of BRC will increase members total annual tonnage of reuse tenfold by 2014.

Bag and patchwork hanging Sewin Studio (Maggie Winnall) Bottle wall thanks to AfHUK Re-Piano Project

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Why is BRC needed?

BRCaddressestwocomplementaryproblems:

Howtostopthedrainof valuablematerialresourcesoutofcirculationintolandfillorincineration,andredirectthemtousefulpurposes.

Howtopreserveandcultivatekeyskillsinourcommunitiesincludingpracticalrepair,technicalandDIYskills,aswellastransferableskillsof business,communicationandcreativitythatare

crucialtoasenseof self-relianceandempowerment.

BRCislocatedinanareaofhighdeprivationandunemployment.InthetwoelectoralwardsclosesttoBRC,10-15%of residentsareunemployed(upto18.5%of males)andatleast65%of propertiesaresocialhousing.Thereareclearneedsfor:

Jobs,trainingandworkexperienceopportunities

Affordablespaceforstart-upandearlystageenterprises

Affordablereusedproducts

Opportunitiesforcommunityactivityincorporatingreuse(e.g.gardening,art,leisurelearning)

ThecommunitysresponsetoBRChasindicatedstrongsupport:over3,000localresidentsvotedforBRCinLambethCouncilspublicvotingproject,YourChoice,resultinginBRCbeingawarded100,000of capitalfunding.

What difference will BRC make?

Theultimategoalof BRCisazerowasteBrixtonanexemplarof innovativepracticeinspiringothertownsaswemovetowardsazerowasteeconomy.Thiscallsforacommunity-widebehaviourshift,underpinnedbyarecognitionof valueintheresourcesaroundusandadrivetomakethemostof thisvalueforthecommongood.

BRCwillnotachievethisgoalalone,butwillactasacatalystforchangeinthefollowingways:

Supportingapassionatecommunityof venturescreatingproductsandopportunitiesfromwaste,byprovidingthemwithaffordableworkspaceandanenterprisedevelopmentplatform.

Enablinglocalresidentsandbusinessestoredirectwasteitemstonewuses,byofferingcollectionservicesanddrop-off pointsforavarietyofitems,andacomprehensiveinformationserviceandnetworkof partnersenablingthereuseofawiderandgrowingrangeofmaterials.

Incentivisingreusethroughdiscountsandspecialofferstomembersandregularusers.

Engaginglocalopinionformers,leaders,andnetworksinpromotingreuse.

Invitingmembersanduserstogetinvolvedinco-designingBRCsservicestobeasrelevantaspossibletotheirneedsandaspirations.

By 2014 we aim to:

Reuse200tonnesof materialsperyearthroughourBrixtonsite.

Havecreated10full-time,15part-timeand30volunteerpositionsattheBrixtonsite(includingthosecreatedbyBRCasanorganisationanditsmemberenterprises).

Involve50traineesperyear,includingunemployedpeople,ex-offendersandthoseinrehabilitationprogrammes,intrainingprogrammescoveringwastemanagement,repair,technical,craftandbusinessskills.

Have100individualmembersand50businessmemberswhowillaccessBRCservicesatdiscountedrates(includingcollections,products,workshopuse,trainingandleisurelearning).

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Receive1000referralsperyearfromhousingassociationsandsocialservicesforpeopleinneedtoaccessaffordablereusedhouseholditems.

Inspiretheregenerationof agrowingnumberofdisusedgarageblocks(averycommoncategoryof wastedspaceacrossLondon)byproducingareplicablemodelforothercommunityorganisationstosetupreusecentresinsuchspaces.WeanticipatethiswilloccurthroughkeypartnershipswithLondonReuseNetwork(currentlysupportingBRCsbusinessdevelopmentand34otherreuseorganisationsinLondon)and/ortheTransitionNetwork(whichincludes33Transitioninitiativesinlondon).

WealsohaveasisterinitiativeinEdinburgh(www.remadeinedinburgh.blogspot.com),whichweanticipatewillhavesecuredapermanentsiteandbedeliveringtheserviceslistedaboveonasimilarscaletotheBrixtonsiteby2014.

Designing and developing BRC

BRChassecureda15yearleaseonan850sqmdisusedgarageblockinnorthBrixton.ArchitectureforHumanityLondon,acharitableorganisationconcernedwiththebuiltenvironment,hasbeenworkingcloselywiththeBRCSteeringGroupsinceMarch2011todesigntheBRCworkspace.AplanningapplicationwillbesubmittedinlateJulysothatpre-constructioncanbegininSeptember.TheexpectedtwomonthconstructionperiodrunsfromOctobertoDecember2011.

Thedesignofthespaces,furnitureandtheexternalstreetpresenceisfocusedoncreatinganinspiringplaceforpeopletoworkandvisit,andtheflexibilitytoaccommodatechangeandgrowth.

Thereuseof materialswhichdrivesthephilosophyof BRCextendstothedesignbothreducingthecarbonfootprintof theprojectandallowingreusetobeshowcasedinthebuildingfabric.

Contact BRC

If youhavequestionsaboutBRCorareinterestedingettinginvolvedasareuseenterprise,serviceuser,customerorpartof thewidercommunityofinterestpleasecontactHannahLewis,BRCDevelopmentManager:hannah@brixtonreusecentre.org /07919 038 778

Proposed layout Design workshops Precedent images from AfHUK research

A project of: Supported by: