Project Independence
Project Independence is a brand new venture that we have entered into, in an attempt to become independent of external sources of funding.
We have found over the years that pools of funding have diminished and that we need to work as hard as we can to generate as much of our funds as possible in order to not only develop new programmes and services, but indeed to survive. Some organisations choose to enter into large contracts with government departments, we however, choose not to do this, preferring to retain as much of our own autonomy as possible.
Having said that, Project Independence is being well supported, initially by the Department of Work & Income, through the provision of Taskforce Green subsidies for employees and through an Enterprising Communities Grant.
What does it involve?
Project independence is a collaborative venture that sees us partnering with Salvation Army and Hospice stores from different parts of the North Island, in the recycling of second hand clothing, that hasn’t sold in our stores, to markets overseas.
How does it work?
We collect reject stock from Salvation Army and Hospice stores around the North Island, by truck, bringing it to our large warehouse/workshop where it is sorted to suit the needs of different buyers.
Where does it go?
The containers of clothing travel to the country of destination e.g. East or West Africa, South America, Philippines, Europe, where it will be on sold to a variety of individual merchants who will then sell the clothes in markets and among their own networks. They may wash, starch or modify the garments, which in itself creates employment opportunities. We only export into countries that we are legally allowed to do so, and do not export into countries that would be adversely affected by imports of secondhand clothing.
Why are we getting involved in this kind of enterprise?
To raise much needed funds for social service delivery
To recycle clothes that still have good life in them, but which do not appeal to the NZ market any more
To substantially reduce the amount of waste going into our NZ landfills
To reduce the waste costs associated with running second hand stores