A CHARITY for homeless people is helping save over 600 tonnes of furniture from landfill.

During national Recycle Week (September 24 to 30), Gloucestershire homelessness charity, Emmaus is asking local people to donate their unwanted items, items that often otherwise would go to landfill.

Emmaus Gloucestershire is a charity that offers an alternative route out of homelessness within a supportive environment that sees homeless individuals both living together in a community and helping to run the Emmaus shops.

National recycling week offers people the vital opportunity not only to donate their unwanted items to help reduce landfill, but also help charities, like Emmaus raise essential funds to help others.

One of the homeless people helped not only by the Emmaus charity, but by the pubic's kind donations, is Will Fletcher.

Will, 36, was formerly addicted to drugs and would spend all the money he earned, and sell any possessions he had, to buy drugs.

Eventually Will became homeless - staying in hostels didn’t provide the support he needed to overcome his addiction, but then he discovered the supportive help of the Emmaus charity.

Will said: “Since arriving at Emmaus nearly two years ago, the support I have received has been brilliant."

"I have a home for as long as I need and a role within our shop."

"I’m responsible for sorting all of the donations of clothing when it arrives, ensuring that it is ready for sale."

"The public are always very generous with their donations, so I’m constantly on the go, which I enjoy.”

In 2017, Emmaus Gloucestershire helped to save over 600 tonnes of furniture including wardrobes, beds and three-piece suites, from going to the rubbish tip, by offering a free collection service for large household items in good condition, with the collected goods then sold in the Emmaus shops in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and Nailsworth.

Emmaus Gloucestershire Chief Executive Joe Feeley, said: “Recycling isn’t just about separating out your weekly rubbish collections; many different materials can be saved from landfill and put to good use."

"We hope that by offering a free collection service more people will be encouraged to think about donating their unwanted items to charity instead of sending them straight to the tip."

"Every donation to Emmaus helps us to change the lives of people like Will.”

To book a free collection with Emmaus for unwanted furniture, please call 01452 413 095 or visit www.emmaus.org.uk/gloucestershire.