The new Acorn Reuse donations centre will be opened by Treasury Minister Susie Pinel on Monday 4th April 2022. It is one of the largest Fiscal Stimulus projects to be delivered so far.
In April 2021 the Government of Jersey awarded Acorn just over £800,000 for the project. Work started in August. It will:
- Create a minimum of 10 paid jobs and 60 training opportunities for people with a disability or long-term health condition.
- Provide a streamlined service for customers and improve working conditions for staff.
- Increase our capacity to receive and process goods by over 30%. We expect to be able to remove an additional 730 tonnes from the waste stream each year.
- Release 25% more sales floor space within the main reuse store, generating further income.
- Help reduce our own carbon footprint – as well as the Island’s.
- Continue to offer items at prices that particularly benefit families on low incomes.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: ‘I’m delighted to officially open Acorn’s new facility, which will provide further opportunities to deliver many more training opportunities to those with a disability or enduring health conditions and has created a number of paid jobs.”
“These training and employment opportunities add to the diversity of the Island’s workforce and play a part in improving the mental health and wellbeing of Islanders. The project has delivered an improved collection and processing hub for Islanders to use which plays a part in Island sustainability by taking reusable items out of the waste stream, as well as helping provide low-cost goods for families on low incomes and supporting people in difficult circumstances for free.”
“Acorn has been helping Islanders either directly or through its services for more than 30 years and it is so good to see them going from strength to strength.”
Acorn general manager Steve Pearce said: “This is a significant and very exciting next step in Acorn’s development after such a challenging time. We are very grateful to the Government of Jersey for the Fiscal Stimulus investment. We would like to thank all the contractors who, despite the current demands on their services, have kept to their schedule and honoured their early commitment to the project.”
The centre will be opened at 8.30 am on Monday 4 April in front of invited guests, which include staff, clients, the Board of Trustees, contractors and supporters.
