A FORMER prisoner who is now trying to turn his life around is urging people in Oxford to help him – by recycling.

Joe Stewart ended up behind bars after he said he 'fell in with the wrong crowd' and made some mistakes.

By the time he was released he had nowhere to live and was facing life on the streets.

Then he discovered the charity Emmaus Oxford, which he says gave him a place to call home but also a chance to turn his life around.

Mr Stewart is one of the 28 homeless and vulnerable people who work at the charity recycling furniture and selling it on from its shop at Templars Square Shopping Centre in Cowley.

The 37-year-old said: "Emmaus has given me a new start.

"Before coming here I was very emotionally isolated, but living with such a mix of people has made a big difference. "

Mr Stewart's role at Emmaus is to help the van driver with collecting and delivering furniture.

He added: "It has really helped me to find that sense of community and belonging which was missing from my old life.

“What I love about Emmaus is we take a piece of furniture that maybe nobody wants and we give it a second chance at life.

"They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; in the same way, this could be said for people too. Emmaus takes time to see beneath the surface and see someone who can be helped."

Over the past 12 months, Mr Stewart and his colleagues have saved more than 630 tonnes of furniture including wardrobes, beds and three-piece suites, from going to the rubbish tip by offering a free collection service for large household items in good condition.

The goods are all sold in the Emmaus store in Cowley.

Mr Stewart has highlighted the charity's work during national Recycle Week – September 24 - 30.

He is now calling on local people to help the charity recycle even more unwanted items and help vulnerable people like him change their lives for the better.

He said: "We’re asking people to take a look around their house, sheds, lofts and garages: if they have any quality furniture they don’t need, they can call us to book a free collection from their home."

Speaking about the plea, Emmaus Oxford store manager Jaime Dodson said: “We’re proud to think that by offering our free collection service, we’re doing our bit to encourage people to think more about recycling.

"It’s a great alternative to having to take your unwanted furniture to the tip.

"We hope that our local community will pull together to help Emmaus continue make a difference; everything sold in the new shop will raise money to help us change the lives of people like Joe.”

To book a free collection call 01865 763698 or visit emmaus.org.uk/oxford