Another Thame Swap Shop

THAME is just one of seventeen communities across Oxfordshire that are holding ?Swap Shops? in their local area to which people can bring unwanted items or pick up anything they want – for free.
Following the success of the first ever county-wide event last year, groups of local people will again be coordinating their events to raise awareness of the simple idea of holding swap shops to re-use old items. This year’s events are on Saturday March 10.

Where are swap shops taking place?

Thame – Christ Church, Upper High Street

Oxford – Barracks Lane, off Cowley Rd,
Oxford – Bullingdon Community Centre, Headington,
Oxford – St Margaret?s Institute Polstead Rd, North Oxford,
Oxford – Waterside and Waterways development, North Oxford,
Oxford – Sunnymead, Harpes Rd, Summertown,
Abingdon – Long Furlong Community Centre,
Buscot -Village Hall
Charlbury – Memorial Hall,
Faringdon – in the Folley, Orchard Hill, Leisure Centre and Community College area
Didcot – Ladygrove Community Centre,
Wallingford – Regal Centre ,
Sutton Courteney – to be announced

Wheatley – Merry Bells,
Wolvercote – to be announced

Witney and West Oxford and Abingdon (south) CAGs will be holding events on different dates.

The Swap Shops are being run by the volunteer led Community Action Groups (CAGs) that work within Oxfordshire communities to save resources and reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill sites.

The CAGs were the first of their kind in the country and were set up by The Recycling Consortium (now Resource Futures) in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council. The model is now being copied in other parts of Britain.

Hannah Moser, Oxfordshire County Council?s Community Action Group (CAG) project coordinator, said: ?By holding swap shops in their local community, groups find new homes for items that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

?Because they are free and local, swap shops benefit the whole community from people on low incomes and those after a bargain to those who want to help reduce waste of resources by giving away their unused household items for re-use.

?You don?t have to bring anything to take something home for free and you don?t have to take to bring; you can even just come along for a nose around!?

Elaine Steane of Sunnymead CAG in North Oxford who will be holding a ?green balloon swap? said: ?This is an easy option for people in our community to reuse items we no longer want.

?All we have to do is collect a green balloon from our street notice board on Harpes Rd and attach it to our unwanted item outside our door. It?s as easy as putting out your recycling for collection.

?The great thing about it is the sense of community that develops; the friendship and camaraderie!?

Some Swap Shops will be run in community halls while others will be street events marked with green balloons. Look out for posters giving exact locations, phone Moira or Hannah on 01865 815871 or click on to www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk