Our new reuse superstore (A New Lease of Life) in Merthyr Tydfil is appealing for more volunteers to help tackle the mountain of items they have rescued from the local recycling centre skips.

This new partnership initiative between ourselves and Merthyr Tydifl  Council was only officially launched on 4th June.

Luckily we got some good coverage on ITV Wales news but there’s still a mountain of items to get through.

Ann Pritchard has been volunteering at “A New Lease of Life” in Merthyr since it first opened a few weeks ago.

We thought it would be good to ask her how she found the experience.

“I’ve worked in charity shops before but this has been a real eye-opener,” she said. “I’m absolutely amazed at what people throw away, items that are still in their wrappings!”

“I’ve always been interested in the charity side of things. I’ve volunteered in other charity shops but this is on a different scale and I love meeting new people when I’m here.

“I meet a lot of people who would like to help but think they have no knowledge or the right skills. But I tell them they have. Some customers, for example, come in for a chat as much as to buy stuff. So just saying hi, and helping them find what they are looking for – that’s knowledge, and that’s helping someone.”

“Creating bedroom or living rooms displays is another aspect of this work I really like. I like moving things around – I do it at home.  Doing the same thing here – deciding what goes where in a display makes a real difference. I think if I’d made it to college I might have been an interior designer!”

According to Beth Rosser, Regional Shop Manager at “A New Lease of Life”   “Our volunteers come from widely different backgrounds and with different abilities”

“Volunteering is both a means of reducing social isolation and for some a pathway back to work. Many of our shops are in areas with high levels of poverty and unemployment.

“The volunteers we get are all very different, and all get different benefits from volunteering. A common theme, however, is that I see a growth in confidence in all our volunteers after only a short time. That’s really important for them … and us. I think we are making a difference in their lives.”

Are you looking to try something new, gain new skills, and have some fun? Sounds like you need to think about volunteering!

Either pop into A New Lease of Life or contact them via Facebook here .

A New Lease of Life is on the Merthyr Tydfil Industrial Park in Pentrebach CF48 4DR