A Bicester organisation set up in 2013 on a mission to reduce waste and bring skills to the community has launched a crowdfunding page to keep its services running amid rising costs.

Looking to stay within the town centre, Bicester Green has appealed for support as they need more staff and are trying to cope with growing overheads that come with managing dual locations.

The group is aiming to raise a total of £20,000 and their crowdfunding page can be found online.

It has saved more than 30 tonnes of material from waste and has had the support of more than 1500 volunteer, providing more than 8000 hours in the last year.

The group started out in Station Approach and moved on to Old Claytons Yard.

The mission to reduce landfill waste has remained the same over the years, with the group focusing on repair, reuse, recondition, repurpose, refill and recycling strategies towards achieving this goal.

By 2023, they had shifted partially to 16 Sheep Street, having acquired part of The Stables in 2019, in the aim to reach a wider audience and selling more of their reconditioned items.

However, recent financial constraints have resulted in a need for community support.

It said: "Times are tough but we're determined to stick around for as long as we possibly can, so to help us with this we've launched a crowdfunder to help us stay in the town centre.

"Trust us, it will all help. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting us"

Testimonials showcase the value of the organisation in helping their volunteers improve their skills, stay active, enjoy camaraderie and even provide a therapeutic experience.

One volunteer said: "This helped me in many ways, I have rheumatism in both hands and the movement needed in my work helps to keep my hands agile. I have electrical skills that I want to pass on to other people."

Another volunteer found it offered a way to stay active and put skills to a beneficial use during furlough.

A further volunteer said it was "the chance to prevent 'stuff' from going into landfill" that attracted him to the organisation.

The organisation also supports Oxfordshire Youth Justice, aiding young people in learning practical tasks directly benefitting those impacted by their offences.

Bicester Green said it needed the support to "help us continue, to stay in the town centre and at the stables, pay the bills, repair more stuff, make more interesting things from reclaimed materials and to offer a place for our volunteers to come to feel safety and belonging".