Features editor Joni Ager finds out how one man's rubbish can be another man's treasure.


There's a saying that goes "Nothing in life is free", but a web phenomenon is proving that wrong.

Freecycle is a charity that invites people to post details of unwanted items they want to give away on a website.

It was founded in America but has grown immensely in the UK, with more than 8,000 people signing up to the Kettering and Wellingborough Freecycle groups.


The Kettering Freecycle group is looking for volunteers to help with the site. It also wants to start an education project in local schools.

If you think you can help, contact the group by emailing ketteringukfreecycle@googlemail.com or visit the site at www.groups.yahoo.com/
group/ketteringukfreecycle.


Susan Anderson, of the Wellingborough Freecycle group, said: "Freecycle is for people who have something they would otherwise throw away. Maybe they have just upgraded their TV or have something they just don't want anymore. Quite often we all have things we might think someone else would like but we just don't know who.

"It's win-win really. It might be rubbish to one person but to another it could be just the thing they are looking for."

Through the group, people have given away pianos, rabbit hutches and even old cars because either they don't have the money or mechanical know-how to fix them.

Freecycle has become so popular in Wellingborough it has just launched a separate group for Rushden and Higham Ferrers.

Mrs Anderson said: "I drive past skips all the time and see things in them and my heart breaks. In the past I have stopped and put a Freecycle leaflet through their letterbox.

"I just want people to think of Freecycle before they go to the tip.

"It is about giving and receiving in your immediate community and it works very well. You get to meet people down the street who you didn't know before. It really boosts a community. Giving to your neighbours is a lovely feeling."

The Kettering Freecycle group is proving just as popular. Its members have given away an inflatable seaside dinghy, complete kitchens, a caravan and 12 tins of Heinz soup.

One person even got a job through Freecycle. He was looking for a secondhand computer and posted an appeal on the site.

Someone responded and when they handed it over they trained him how to use it. He now works in IT.

The Kettering group has just decided to allow members to offer animals free to a good home.

Neil Bradley-Dye, one of the group owners, says there are people who can no longer afford to keep their pet but are finding all the animal shelters are full.

There are usually two or three pets posted on the site a week and so far the majority have been successfully rehomed. Since June Freecycle members have given away: 12 rabbits, 10 hamsters, four cats, two guinea pigs, 15 kittens, eight gerbils, seven dogs, one rat, two Aylesbury ducks,two ferrets, two chickens, one love bird and numerous fish.

Mr Bradley-Dye said Freecycle is also a great way to make friends.

He said: "I moved to Kettering from Cardiff three years ago and I didn't know anyone. I have made all my friends through Freecycle. It is such a friendly organisation.

"It is popular because it is a way of getting something for free or giving something to someone else – it's a feel good factor."