Swindon residents are amongst the most generous in the country when it comes to recycling textiles in support of the fire and rescue community.
During 2020-21, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fire station on Drove Road in the town achieved the second highest amount of textile recycling for the Fire Fighters Charity of all sites nationally.
Firefighters have now received a certificate of commendation from the Charity, and they are now hoping to hit the top spot for 2021-22.
Area Manager Marc House, the Service’s lead co-ordinator for the Charity, presented the certificate earlier this week and thanked the local community for its support: “Swindon’s yield of over 30 tonnes of recycling collected last year was less than two tonnes below the amount achieved by Egremont fire station in Cumbria, so we will be working hard to increase our totals this year!
“Textile recycling is an essential part of the income needed by the Fire Fighters Charity to deliver its services to everyone who works within the fire and rescue sector – help which ranges from mental health services to career-saving physiotherapy to financial and practical support. With no Government funding, the Charity needs to raise at least £5 million annually, and all fire stations do what they can to achieve this.”
Swindon fire station also raises money every year by undertaking car washes and providing matchday parking when Swindon Town FC plays at home.
More information about the Charity and the locations of its local textile recycling banks can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/fire-fighters-charity
