The project provides affordable items for people who need them and back-to-work opportunities for people who are long-term unemployed. It encourages the reuse of most easily reusable, repairable or recyclable bulky items which should be in good condition or in a repairable state. These include the items shown in the blue box.

Reusable items are distributed to a wide variety of LCRN members, and it is this access to a large number of varied outlets that is one of the major strengths of the scheme and what sets it apart from others.

The project comprises two elements:

One element of the project is a workshop – “ReWork” – at the Smugglers Way transfer station in Wandsworth that is used to refurbish and enhance the reusable goods and items.

Cory has given up space and buildings within the transfer station to create sufficient storage for the reusable goods and items. The access to and refurbishment of these buildings has enabled a safe and fully contained reuse working area to operate away from the main transfer station operations.

The workshop is operated as a training centre for volunteer unemployed people and also facilitates the Community Pay Back scheme. Its aim is to provide accredited training such as manual handling, stock control, customer service, health and safety, environmental awareness, warehouse and distribution.

There are now nine full-time members of staff in post. There are three part-time paid trainees and the London Probation Service also volunteers up to sixteen offenders who carry out their group Community Order work (Community Service), eight of whom work in one group every Monday under a Community Service supervisor, with the remaining eight being spread over the rest of week working under Rework staff supervision. In addition there are two other volunteers working part-time directly with Rework staff.

The design of the Household Waste and Recycling Centre includes a dedicated area for residents to drop off their reusable goods. Reusable goods in good cosmetic condition that need minor repair and/or electrical testing are taken to the workshop.

Since it opened in 2012 productivity has steadily increased and now more than 50 large kitchen appliances and 60 furniture items are being refurbished and sent for resale each week.