A CHARITY is appealing for help from Oxfordshire businesses in a bid to unlock vital funding.

Aspire has been awarded a £9,300 grant from the Banbury-based Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to buy 20 new clothes recycling banks, but needs match funding to release the grant.

Now the social enterprise based in Osney Lane, Oxford, is looking to find 20 businesses willing to make a £450 donation which will help create 60 new work placements for disadvantaged people, as well as diverting 232 tonnes of waste from landfill over three years.

Aspire's head of fundraising, Jane Harris, said: “We already have 11 clothing banks and in the first six months we have collected 32 tonnes of textiles and generated £16,000 in revenue.”

Members of the Aspire team will also be giving talks to pupils on topics including homelessness and addiction.

If you can help, call 01865 204450