A COMMUNITY scrapstore in Lye Valley has enjoyed a makeover from the community and a charity, which sent out a team to help transform the store this week.

The work party day took place on Sunday at the Orinoco Scrapstore at the Bullingdon Community Centre, Peat Moors.

A team of volunteers from the Band of Brothers charity was dispatched to help refurbish the store and install a new feature wall made out of recycling materials.

The charity store encourages the production of recyclable materials for re-sale to a range of groups and communities.

Managing director at Orinoco Dan Harris, 38, said: “This valuable support couldn’t have come at a better moment as we start an important year.

“We’ve had such a long and vibrant history in Oxford supporting the creative communities of our city.

“We’re dedicating 2017 to connecting and celebrating the creativity of our community as we prepare to celebrate 25 years of this important charity.”

Launched in 1993, Orinoco aims to inspire creativity through the re-use of materials.

From its Scrapstore at the Bullingdon Community Centre it sells scrap items for art, crafts, play and creative projects as well as new materials, refurbished tools and DIY equipment.

Mr Harris explained: “Set up in 1993, Orinoco’s mission is to banish boredom and save the planet using creativity and play to inspire the reuse of materials.

“Over its 23-year history Orinoco has saved lorry loads of interesting resources from ending up in landfill.”

For Dan Harris, who has lived in Wallingford and now Oxford, said he has seen the success of the scrapstore continue to grow after he took over the reins in November.

Mr Harris said: "One of the changes that makes it so important right now is so much of our customers are teachers or people that are play groups and they have seen their project and resources costs rising.

"So the materials that we supply to them are affordable resources so that they can keep their important projects going. For me it is building a massive network of people, that's what draws people to it."

Orinoco is also building up to its 25-year anniversary celebrations in 2018, and plan to hold celebratory events in the near future.

Mr Harris said: "I think the idea of recycling and re-using is becoming more and more important. Its obviously hugely important in terms of looking after the planet.

"This year, ahead of the 25 year birthday, I feel it is particularly pertinent and particularly important to have a resource where people can not only feel like they are having a positive relationship with the resources they are using but also being able to do something sustainable."