Green-Works and Steelcase head for tea at Number 10 On the eve of Tony Blair’s departure, Green- Works and Steelcase were entertained by Cherie Blair at Number 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister’s wife chose to spend her last full day in residence celebrating those involved with the Waterloo Partnership. The Waterloo partnership is a charity founded by Claire Curtis-Thomas MP which supports projects to rebuild the infrastructure of Waterloo in Sierra Leone. The town was at the front line of the recent civil war and suffered drastically. Major buildings were destroyed and disease was endemic but in the middle of this terrible situation, the townspeople explained to Claire that the thing they most wanted was a library. Approximately 50% of the population of Sierra Leone is below the age of 16, but only 41% of these have access to schooling. It is estimated that two thirds of the population are now illiterate. With support from many organisations, including Green-Works, Claire managed to raise funds and expertise to build a cutting edge library in Waterloo. Colin Crooks, CEO of Green-Works, said: “I heard about the Waterloo Partnership and I felt that Green-Works had to help if it could. I wrote to Claire offering to supply the library with all the internal furnishings – the shelving, the chairs, desks, storage. “Shortly afterwards we organised a visit to Sierra Leone. The library has had a hugely beneficial impact on the community, but there is so much more to do. We have now committed to helping the Waterloo partnership equip the all the municipal facilities in the town.” As part of the Waterloo partnership Claire Curtis-Thomas has helped to foster strong links between the towns of Waterloo in Sierra Leone and Waterloo in Liverpool, in the UK. The two communities have made a long term commitment to one another to develop a mutually beneficial relationship based on sharing the best of what each has to offer the other. Cherie Booth commented at the reception hosted on 26th June: “This is a valuable initiative and I am proud to support Green-Works and the Waterloo Partnership.” Charity and social enterprise Green-Works encourages organisations to donate their redundant furniture for re-use, making it available at low cost to local charities, community organisations and small businesses. It also has an in-house joinery which transforms desktops and cabinets into tables, desks, storage units and a range of children’s furniture. Furniture which cannot be re-used or remanufactured is recycled. Last year Steelcase signed up in an exclusive marketing partnership to promote Green-Works take-back initiatives across the UK through its business services and network of dealers. Colin Crooks said: “We depend on our clients and supporters like Steelcase. Without them we would not be able to make our commitment to the Waterloo partnership.” To find out more information about Green-Works please visit: |
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