Warwick Volunteers collaborated with Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA’s upcycling social enterprise, YMCA Up, to transform junk into amazing Christmas trees and decorations that will be donated to community organisations.

The trees were made almost entirely from unwanted materials that were donated to us. Used golf balls came from Coventry Golf Club, bike chains and gears came from Mike Vaughan Cycles, MDF came from Builders Supply Coventry and jam jars came from Curiositea tea shop on campus.

At the event Warwick Volunteers also launched a programme of one off volunteering events designed to make volunteering accessible to staff and students who are keen to get involved but aren’t able to make a regular commitment. This includes a number of opportunities within Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA Projects, such as YMCA Sleep Easy and the YMCA Growing Communities gardening project. Non YMCA projects on offer include Leamington Canal Clean Up and fence painting at RNIB Three Spires school.

Abigail Jone, from Warwick Volunteers said:

We are delighted that over 50 staff and students pledged their time on Giving Tuesday to help our community partner, Coventry and Warwickshire YMCA and their upcycling social enterprise, YMCA Up, transform junk into amazing Christmas decorations that we can donate to the community. We are especially pleased that many participants also signed up to take part in our new one-off volunteering opportunities.

The event was a great sucess with one of the upcycled Christmas trees being placed in Coventry Catherdral Unity Chapel. Andy Winter, Chief Executive of YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire said:

We were pleased to support Warwick Volunteers in this fun event showcasing our social enterprise YMCA Up, which transforms old unused products and materials into new and exciting things. We have a wide range of volunteering opportunities and welcome anyone wanting to give time to support our work. It really does make a huge difference.”

For more information about getting involved in volunteering events see the Warwick Volunteers website. Or for details about the YMCA, please visit http://www.coventryandwarwickshire-ymca.org.uk.