Last term, Oxfam and Warwick Volunteers joined forces with Warwick Accommodation & Estates in order to help reduce both the environmental impact of this waste, recycle as much unsalable stock as possible, but also to recover stock of significant value for Oxfam's work to overcome poverty and suffering.

Every year a significant volume of saleable goods and food is left behind by undergraduate and postgraduate students at the end of academic years. Without intervention the majority of this is incinerated.

In June, 4,400 Oxfam collecting bags were distributed to all students’ rooms on campus to be filled with unwanted goods.

This massive operation involved 11 residences and approximately 4,500 rooms.

According to Oxfam figures, it is estimated that £16.000 worth of clothes, £2.700 worth of bric-a-brac and £11.000 worth of books were donated to local Oxfam shops.

The project also supported local refugee and homeless projects by giving nearly 3 tonnes of food and duvets to the Coventry Peace House, Coventry Refugee Centre, Turn Around Project, Second Chance and RSPCA.

This project would not have been possible without the help of 42 staff (both from Oxfam and Warwick University) and student volunteers who, over a week period, collected, sorted and ‘saved’ the environment of 10.5 tonnes of what would have been waste!

If you would like to find out more about the project or would like to participate in the postgraduate room clearances in September contact Warwick Volunteers or call 024 7657 2763.

Will you please pass on our thanks to those who were responsible for making the donation of goods to ourselves – it is very much appreciated and we are already finding homes for much of what came in. Peter Whitehead, 2ND Chance Project Manager

We would like to thank the students for their donations and all the volunteers: Alan, Amber, Andy, Belinda, Ben, Caroline, Craig, David, Debbie, Eddie, Emma, Heidi, Jenny, Joe, Katie, Keighley, Lin, Liridona, Loll, Maarten, Paul, Peggy, Richard, Stella, Stephen, Stocky, Suri, Surinder, Tamara, Thomas, Winnie, Zahinda, J A, Joey, Jop, Lizzie, Lyndsey, Pierre, Regina, Rob G, Rob M. Special thanks to: Austin Lloyd, Oxfam volunteer, Jane Watkins, Accommodation Services Campus Manager, and her staff and Heidi Willis, Waste and Recycling Officer, for going the extra mile!