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Approved Re-use Centre (ARC) of Business Excellence
T.R.E.E. have become one of only 8 Approved Re-use Centres in the country after passing a rigorous audit process earlier in the year. The award, issued by the FRNE, is the only one to date issued in the Eastern region. Chief Executive Mark Penn was said to be delighted when asked to comment on the award. He said “It is the culmination of 4 years hard work. It’s a tribute to everyone involved.”The importance of this audit is to prove that the voluntary sector is a professional organisation and can compete with private businesses, while meeting the standards expected by Government. |
Chief Executive Mark Penn |
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Clearance of the London Fire Brigade Headquarters in Partnership with RHT
In March 2008, Tendring Reuse was called in by RHT to clear the headquarters of the London Fire Brigade on London’s Albert embankment. RHT had promised the London Fire Brigade that they are committed to re-use and recycling. The 9-story building was being cleared as the fire brigade moved to a new headquarters in Union Street. Inside, T.R.E.E. and the Ipswich Furniture Project cleared electrical items including fridges, TV’s, kettles, toasters, heaters, and fans. It took 2 vans two days to empty all the electrical items from the 2.5acre site, used by the London fire brigade since 1937. These items were then tested before being reused in the community or recycled.
Colchester Borough Council Contacts T.R.E.E.
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T.R.E.E. recently helped out Colchester Borough Council’s Noise Abatement Team. We were called in to dispose of a large quantity of seized audio equipment. The equipment was seized by the Council’s Environmental Control department from households who continually disrupted neighbours’ lives with noise nuisance from loud music and televisions. Councillor Roger Buston, Portfolio Holder for Street Services said; “This is an excellent initiative, as not only does the charity benefit from these items, but it also means that we are not forced into sending them to landfill. |
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“The seizure of equipment is an extreme, but very effective, measure reserved for the noisiest offenders. However, it is a step that Environmental Control officers will continue to take when necessary and the recent donation means that they now have plenty of storage space, so be warned!”
You can view the BBC News coverage of this story by clicking here
T.R.E.E. Highly Commended
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Left to Right: Andy, Mark, Peter, Sharon, Simon |
T.R.E.E. is proud to announce that we have been ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Reuse Project of the Year award’ category at the Furniture Reuse Network (FRN) President’s awards 2007.Richard Featherstone, who founded the Furniture Recycling Network (FRN) 18 years ago and initiated the awards, said: "These awards are to celebrate reuse tackling poverty and unemployment while preventing good furniture going to landfill. |
The Gloucester Furniture Recycling Project took home the Reuse Project of the Year, while staff at Starter Packs Glasgow, received the Award for Innovation. Tendring Reuse and Employment Enterprise along with Lancashire-based Furniture Matters were both Highly Commended by the judges
'EVERY STEP' SUCCESS'

T.R.E.E. recently received free funding for one of its staff members to undertake an NVQ in IT Users .
This training was part of the 'Easy Step' programme linked to Learn Direct.
Pete, a driver with T.R.E.E., was successful in completing this programme and received his OCR NVQ 2 certificate in IT Users. This certificate incorporates 6 units in:
- Make selective use of IT
- Operate a computer
- IT trouble-shooting
- Internet and intranets
- Email
- Word processing software
WELL DONE Pete!

T.R.E.E. recently received free funding for one of its staff members to undertake an NVQ in IT Users .
This training was part of the 'Easy Step' programme linked to Learn Direct.
Pete, a driver with T.R.E.E., was successful in completing this programme and received his OCR NVQ 2 certificate in IT Users. This certificate incorporates 6 units in:
- Make selective use of IT
- Operate a computer
- IT trouble-shooting
- Internet and intranets
- Word processing software
WELL DONE Pete!
CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS!!
Jason works as the Receptionist and Administration Assistant for Tendring Reuse and Employment Enterprise. He has been involved in a Career Track course and has successfully completed a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Business and Administration and has recently started a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Customer Service.Career Track supports 16-25 year olds within work based learning around administration and customer service, these include NVQ level 2/3, Key skills and a technical certificate. It is coordinated through Tendring District Council.Jason was invited to attend the 'Celebration of Success' at the Town Hall on Friday 7 December, where learners were congratulated for their contributions and achievements.Jason came away from the event with 3 certificates:
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LET'S PARTY!!
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Staff at Tendring Reuse and Employment Enterprise partied the night away at their Christmas outing on Friday 23 November 2007.It was an oppportunity for everyone involved with the organisation to participate in a fun team building event that gave directors, staff, volunteers and placements the chance to let their hair down and socialise with each other in a more relaxed and informal way.The night proved very successful and a fun time was had by everybody! |

THE OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY FURNITURE SHOP
Friday 6th July heralded the opening of the new Community Furniture Shop in the High Street, Clacton.
Mark Penn, Chief Executive, said "This project was kickstarted by a local business man offering the premises at a peppercorn rent. The project is aimed at helping people to access good quality furniture at low cost within the town centre. No one need miss out on viewing the vast choice of stock as there is a disabled lift to the second floor. The shop will be open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. The project will give volunteers and placements the chance to gain training and qualifications in customer services, retail and administration. The service offers fantastic opportunities for the local people to donate good quality furniture around their busy working lives!"


Above photo left to right: Cllr Peter Vaux-Balbirnie, Cllr Michael Talbot, William Smith TDC, Mark Penn, Chief Executive (T.R.E.E.), Stephen Sparrow TDC, David Triolo, Chairman (T.R.E.E.)
Photo on left from left to right: Myles Cooper, Workskills, Cllr Peter Vaux-Balbirnie, David Triolo, Chairman (T.R.E.E.), Mark Penn, Chief Executive (T.R.E.E.)
Friday 6th July heralded the opening of the new Community Furniture Shop in the High Street, Clacton.
Mark Penn, Chief Executive, said "This project was kickstarted by a local business man offering the premises at a peppercorn rent. The project is aimed at helping people to access good quality furniture at low cost within the town centre. No one need miss out on viewing the vast choice of stock as there is a disabled lift to the second floor. The shop will be open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. The project will give volunteers and placements the chance to gain training and qualifications in customer services, retail and administration. The service offers fantastic opportunities for the local people to donate good quality furniture around their busy working lives!"


Above photo left to right: Cllr Peter Vaux-Balbirnie, Cllr Michael Talbot, William Smith TDC, Mark Penn, Chief Executive (T.R.E.E.), Stephen Sparrow TDC, David Triolo, Chairman (T.R.E.E.)
Photo on left from left to right: Myles Cooper, Workskills, Cllr Peter Vaux-Balbirnie, David Triolo, Chairman (T.R.E.E.), Mark Penn, Chief Executive (T.R.E.E.)
'VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR 2007'
'KELLY FINDS HER SILVER LINING!'
Kelly wins the silver award!!Tendring Community Voluntary Service held the Volunteer of the Year 2007 for the first time this year. It was organised to celebrate the achievements of the communities local volunteers. There were two categories 'Tendring Volunteer of the Year" and " Tendring Voluntary Group of the Year". The 'Thank You' evening was on Friday 1 June at the Clacton Town Hall.T.R.E.E. was happy to nominate Kelly Lewis as its "Volunteer of the Year" and submitted the following application describing why it thought Kelly should be considered for an award..."Kelly is a forthright, hardworking, conscientious volunteer. Even though Kelly has some learning disabilities she has proved able to work on her own initiative and the quality of anything she undertakes is very high. Kelly is willing to take on new responsibilities and does so methodically and diligently. She gets on well with everyone she meets, is a good team player, and has an infectious sense of humour. She can be trusted to participate in a variety of tasks within the workshop, and when she has completed these she takes steps to find things to do to keep busy, and is confident in her own abilities. Kelly is understanding and sympathetic to other volunteers and is capable of assisting them if they need any guidance with any of the work they are doing"..Kelly's proud family watched as she collected her certificate of achievement, and with live music and refreshments, a fun time was had by all!! |
Kelly with her mum and sister (front) |






