Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced a new wave of funding worth £220,000 to support local reuse and repair projects aimed at cutting waste, promoting sustainability, and building community skills across the region. The grants, distributed through the Renew Community Fund, will benefit 20 grassroots organisations dedicated to extending the life of everyday items — from furniture and clothing to electronics and bicycles.
A Push Toward a Circular Economy
The Renew Community Fund is part of Greater Manchester’s ambitious effort to move toward a circular economy, in which products and materials are reused, repaired, and recycled rather than discarded. The initiative is funded through profits from the sale of pre-loved items at the region’s Renew Shops, which are run in partnership between GMCA, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, and local councils.
Since its launch in 2021, the fund has distributed more than £1 million to community-led sustainability projects, while the Renew Shops themselves have diverted hundreds of tonnes of usable goods from landfill.
Mayor Andy Burnham praised the latest round of grants as “a brilliant example of community action driving climate solutions.”
“People in Greater Manchester are leading the way in how we think about waste,” he said. “Every item we repair or reuse helps reduce our carbon footprint, saves residents money, and strengthens our local economy.”
Funding for Grassroots Innovation
The £220,000 allocation will be shared among a diverse mix of organisations, from social enterprises to volunteer groups, each tackling different aspects of sustainability.
Among this year’s recipients is Manchester Bike Kitchen, a volunteer-run workshop that teaches residents how to repair and maintain their bicycles. The group plans to use its £12,000 grant to expand free repair sessions in local neighbourhoods and provide refurbished bikes to low-income families.
Another beneficiary, Stretford Swap Stop, will use its funding to develop a community “clothes library” that encourages borrowing, swapping, and repairing garments instead of buying new ones. Founder Amy Lewis said the project “offers a creative solution to fast fashion.”
“With this support, we can reach more people and help them rethink how they consume,” she said.
Other grants include funding for electrical repair cafés in Bolton, a furniture upcycling scheme in Bury, and an innovative project in Wigan turning discarded wood into affordable home products.
Reducing Waste, Building Skills
The Renew Fund’s broader purpose goes beyond recycling. It aims to empower communities by teaching practical skills that contribute to both sustainability and employability.
“Repairing is about more than fixing things — it’s about building confidence and resilience,” said Mike Savage, GMCA’s Waste and Resources lead. “We’re supporting projects that bring people together to learn, share skills, and create economic opportunities.”
Workshops funded through the scheme will offer training in carpentry, textiles, electronics repair, and sustainable design. Many projects also partner with schools and youth groups, ensuring that younger generations gain awareness of environmental responsibility from an early age.
A Model for Other Regions
The Renew Fund has become one of the most successful examples of local circular-economy policy in the UK. Other councils — including Leeds, Bristol, and Glasgow — have shown interest in replicating Greater Manchester’s model, which combines public-sector leadership with grassroots participation.
Environmental consultant Fiona Atkins said the approach works because it “connects policy to people.”
“Instead of top-down recycling campaigns, this is about empowering communities to take ownership of change,” she explained. “It’s cost-effective, socially inclusive, and environmentally impactful.”
In 2024 alone, Greater Manchester’s Renew network diverted more than 600 tonnes of household goods from landfill, saving an estimated 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. Officials estimate that more than 100,000 items — including furniture, clothing, books, and electronics — were given a new lease of life through donation and resale.
Local Voices: Pride and Practical Impact
In Oldham, the community group Reboot IT has been refurbishing old laptops and tablets for distribution to families without access to digital devices. The group’s founder, Darren Chow, said the new funding will help them train volunteers and expand their operations.
“Access to technology is no longer a luxury; it’s essential for education and work,” he said. “By repairing old computers, we’re keeping electronics out of landfill and giving people the tools they need to thrive.”
Residents involved in these initiatives say the benefits are tangible. “We’ve repaired everything from lamps to lawnmowers,” said volunteer engineer Sarah Collins, who helps run a repair café in Salford. “People come in thinking their item is broken forever — and they leave with a working appliance and new skills. It’s empowering.”
Economic and Environmental Impact
Analysts say Greater Manchester’s reuse and repair network demonstrates how small community projects can collectively produce significant economic and environmental outcomes.
A recent GMCA report found that every £1 invested in community repair initiatives yields up to £3 in social and environmental value, through waste reduction, skill development, and reduced carbon emissions.
Waste management experts highlight that household waste remains one of the region’s largest environmental challenges. Despite progress, Greater Manchester still sends thousands of tonnes of usable goods to disposal sites each year. By redirecting even a small portion of that waste into reuse systems, the Renew Fund helps alleviate pressure on municipal budgets and landfill capacity.
Bridging Social Gaps
The social dimension of the scheme is equally important. Many of the funded projects operate in lower-income communities, where access to affordable goods and repair services is limited.
“Circular economy policies often focus on the environment, but their social impact is just as powerful,” said Dr. Rupal Shah, a sustainability researcher at the University of Salford. “When communities learn to repair, they reduce costs, strengthen local ties, and foster pride in place.”
One beneficiary, Bolton Community Workshop, plans to use its grant to run intergenerational repair classes, pairing retired engineers with local apprentices. “We want to make fixing things cool again,” said organiser John Fielding. “There’s so much knowledge in our older population — this is about passing it on.”
Future Expansion and Long-Term Goals
GMCA officials say the success of the Renew Fund has exceeded expectations and are now exploring ways to expand it. There are plans to open additional Renew Shops across the region, allowing more residents to donate and purchase second-hand items. The authority is also considering partnerships with universities to research new circular-economy technologies.
Mayor Burnham said he sees the initiative as part of Greater Manchester’s wider strategy to become a carbon-neutral city-region by 2038. “This is the kind of local innovation that drives global change,” he said. “We’re proving that practical, community-led action can have a massive impact.”
Looking ahead, the Combined Authority hopes to double the size of the Renew Fund by 2026, potentially distributing up to £500,000 annually. Officials are also exploring digital tools to help residents locate nearby repair services and track the environmental benefits of their actions.
A Changing Mindset
At its heart, the Renew initiative represents a cultural shift — from a “throwaway society” to one that values longevity, skill, and sustainability.
As volunteer repairer Sarah Collins put it, “People are starting to see that old doesn’t mean useless. Every toaster or table we fix keeps something out of the bin and gives someone a sense of accomplishment. That’s real change, one small act at a time.”
With the latest round of funding, Greater Manchester’s community groups are poised to repair thousands more items, empower hundreds of new volunteers, and inspire other cities to follow suit.
For residents, it’s a reminder that the solutions to big environmental challenges often start on their own doorstep — with a screwdriver, a bit of patience, and a shared belief that nothing should go to waste.
