A SOCIAL enterprise that is playing its part in tackling the cost of living crisis, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Refurb Flint celebrate 20 years of helping households with low incomes furnish their homes for less and stopping good quality items ending up in landfill.

They help the environment by reducing what is sent to landfill by collecting re-usable household items, recycling and reconditioning them to be sold at Refurbs, at affordable prices and with a warranty.

Working closely with Flintshire County Council, Refurbs provide services such as bulky waste collections, void clearances and have an award-winning sofa deconstruction project. Such services allow Refurbs to provide training and volunteering opportunities for people facing challenges such as health issues or long-term unemployment.

Amy Clearly, manager of Refurbs, said: “As the new manager of Refurbs, I am honoured to continue keeping the community at the forefront of our mission. With the cost of living crisis on everyone’s mind, we are more determined than ever to ensure everyone has access to good affordable furniture."

Read more: Flint Community Fridge open to people and local business

This year saw the launch of the popular Community Fridge at Refurbs thanks to the support of environmental charity Hubbub UK and the Co-op, and thanks to donations of fridges from Clwyd Alyn and Groundwork North Wales. The Community Fridge continues to be part of a growing effort to tackle food waste.

The Refurbs site also houses the Wood Shed, a welcoming friendly environment, giving unemployed or retired individuals an opportunity to come together, learn new skills and practice old ones in a relaxed, welcoming, and friendly environment.

Activities include repairing furniture, creating small wooden craft pieces such as planters and bird boxes for resale and joining in various expert workshops.

Refurbs Flint has also seen the beginning of the Bike Recycling Project. This involves the refurbishment of bikes that are no longer wanted or fit for purpose. The bikes are collected from local household recycling centres, skip sites or they have been donated.

The bikes are refurbished back to life by volunteers led by a qualified Cytech mechanic. The volunteers undertake various tasks to refurbish the bikes back to being fit for purpose. With all bikes undergoing a full pre-delivery inspection check from a qualified Cytech mechanic before sale.

Refurb sites are also located in Wrexham and Buckley.

To keep up to date with Refurbs Flint projects, events and volunteering opportunities, visit www.groundworknorthwales.org.uk/refurbs.