Borrow It! service launches to reduce waste and save residents money

Borrow It! - a service run by community benefit society Things in Common Ltd – has opened a Sharing Station in the Howard Centre with the aid of a £15,000 WelHat Community Grant provided by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

The station, which is in the centre’s first floor car park by the exit from the South Mall, loans out high-quality DIY tools and household essentials such as drills, pressure washers, strimmers, sewing machines and more. Known as a ‘library of things’, this reduces waste, conserves valuable resources and helps households keep more money in their pockets.

Anyone over the age of 18 can use the Sharing Station by signing up online for a monthly subscription of £3.75. Social housing tenants and those on means-tested benefits can sign up for free by uploading a supporting document from their social landlord or benefit agency when they apply. Subscribers select what they wish to borrow online and are given a code that allows them to collect the item from the locker, which they can keep for up to seven days. Borrow It! volunteers meet up weekly to check in everything that has been returned, ensuring the items are safe and ready for the next person. 

WelHat Community Grants are designed to fund projects that make a positive impact on the community and support residents of the borough while contributing to the council’s priorities. To further support the service, the council has provided additional funding to purchase a thermal imaging camera for the Sharing Station, which will help residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and detect problems such as leaks and pests. Support has also been provided by council contractors Morgan Sindall, who donated a jet wash, and Novus Solutions, who donated a £500 B&Q voucher which was used to purchase a range of useful tools.

Sam Rowe, local resident and one of the founders of the Welwyn Garden City initiative, said:

"We have had great success with this service in London. When I saw the council's community grant scheme, I knew immediately that it made sense to bring this service to Welwyn Garden City where my family have lived for over 10 years. I was delighted to get the funding. The council has been amazingly helpful, and it couldn't have happened without the support of everyone at the Howard Centre."

Councillor Max Holloway, Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development and Climate Change, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome Borrow It! to their new home in the Howard Centre. This brilliant initiative will allow people to access essential goods much more cheaply and sustainably, helping residents to save money and supporting our aim of becoming a net zero-carbon borough by 2050.”

Councillor Jane Quinton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member Leisure and Community, said:

“I’m really proud that this fantastic initiative is going ahead and that a grant from the council has made it possible. This project really demonstrates how a community grant can make a big difference. I wish Borrow It! every success in their drive to reduce waste and support our residents.”

To find out more, visit: https://borrowit.org.uk/