Youcan Recycling project carving a strong future

Youcan Recycling is giving people the chance to support its future by helping to raise £41,000 through JustGiving.com crowdfunding platform. The money will be used to acquire its new home in Dundee, secure the site for the long term and grow the business for future generations.

With an estimate of more than one hundred million tonnes of waste generated in the UK each year, Youcan aims to reduce the volume destined for landfill. Operating as a social enterprise, it works with a team of 5 current students and alumni who are dedicated volunteers to collect, repurpose and sell waste that would otherwise go to rubbish – helping to benefit both the community and the environment.

Youcan has saved over 50 tonnes of waste from landfill over the past year. Collected waste is either transformed for resale, used to make materials or sustainably recycled. The business operates a successful employment program that creates social inclusion and learning – and is vital to operating a sustainable social business model.

Youcan aims to employ individuals with a learning disability or mental health issue, the long-term unemployed and those with substance abuse problems. Youcan aims to offer an inclusive, sociable and practical environment where employees can gain work experience, knowledge and confidence to better their personal situation and future employment prospects.

Thomas Bayne, founder and co-director of Youcan Recycling, said: “We move into our new premises this year to enable us to expand our growing business of reusing and recycling waste, therefore offering more employment and volunteering opportunities. Purchasing our site will help us achieve that and provide security for the foreseeable future. Crowdfunding through JustiGiving.com will help us raise the funds quickly and efficiently and we believe we should attract a wide range of investors to join our community and help us create a positive and prosperous future.”

Nesta.org.uk said:

“There aren’t many social enterprises that can boast a threefold impact but Youcan Recycling is delivering social, environmental and economic benefits to its local community. Following various roles within waste management, Thomas Bayne was made redundant and collecting cans from his village pub for the scrap merchant when he realised his autistic brother had a knack for sorting the metals. Harry loved the work and the precision and repetition suited his skillset.

Working with Perth and Kinross Council Employability Team, Youcan ran a few tests to see if the work involved would be suitable for others suffering from similar conditions. They had great success and the enterprise now collects cans, plastics and cardboards free of charge for a growing network of businesses.

As well as protecting the planet - for every tonne of aluminium recycled, Youcan saves nine tonnes of Co2 emissions – it enables huge cost savings and thus reinvestment in the local economy. The enterprise’s impact has been most visible with its part-time workers, though, who have found a sense of self-worth, pride and confidence.

From small beginnings, Youcan has gone on to win the Scottish Institute for Enterprise’s Fresh Ideas Environment Award and is currently a finalist in the Current Converge Challenge and Santander Universities Challenge.

As well as expanding into other materials like paper and glass, Thomas is hoping to provide educational trips and work experience days to raise awareness around recycling. “Our vision is to be the number one recycling provider in Scotland with operations in all seven of the Scottish cities, a goal that will change lives for the better all over the country.”

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Please find attached our list about what we need and which justify the amount asked.

Do you think you can help us reach our goals? Now YOUCAN.