GREEN Ilminster is looking for volunteers to join a new sustainability project launching in the town in the new year. 

Ilminster Share and Repair aims to prevent broken items from going to landfill and give them a new lease of life. 

Repairs will be carried out by volunteers in exchange for a donation, while a range of "most-wanted" items will be available to borrow for a small fee. 

The project will also become a space where local people can share tools and equipment (including gardening tools, camping equipment and school uniforms that are no longer needed), knowledge, and skills.

Green Ilminster, which aims to increase sustainability in the town to reduce its impact on the planet, has secured premises in Silver Street for the new project. 

The volunteers plan to have the project up and running in January and are currently seeking donations to help cover the first six months' worth of operating costs. 

Sarah Hunt of Green Ilminster said: "We think that Ilminster Share and Repair can bring so many benefits to the town including reducing waste, saving money and improving everybody’s wellbeing.

"We must move away from the 'throwaway society' that has developed in recent decades. Given the climate emergency, we have to see what we call waste as a resource."

The project is supported by Phil Burton, the mayor of Ilminster. 

Councillor Burton said: "Ilminster Share and Repair is an excellent way of encouraging people to re-use and repair an item, rather than buying new products, which will save people money as well as benefitting the environment.

"It’s a great way to encourage the people of Ilminster to support each other, the town and the environment all in one place."

Green Ilminster plan for the project to be self-sustaining within its first year.

The volunteers have asked for people with skills or equipment to share, or items to donate to their Library of Things, to get in touch with Green Ilminster via email (greenilminster@btinternet.com) or on Facebook.

The project is seeking donations to help with start-up costs.

A JustGiving page has been set up with the target of raising £3,500 to provide "the first six months' worth of running costs to prove the concept and develop a more sustainable operating model". 

The Ilminster Share and Repair JustGiving page can be found HERE.

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