A CHARITY is settling in to its new, eco-friendly home in Billericay after a £273,000 refurbishment.

The Hamelin Trust, which trains and supports children and adults with disabilities, has moved all of its services into the building in Radford Crescent.

The trust bought the building in December 2010 and, using a Government grant, set about renovating the offices and warehouse to turn it into a furniture restoration and IT salvaging area as well as offices and training rooms.

It is heated using bio diesel which the trust makes itself at a plant in Rochford and extra insulation has been added to the roof.

Kirstin Terris, fundraising and publicity officer, said: “Two of our re-use and recycle projects have moved into our building. IT equipment comes in and we strip it down, put more software back in it then we have the possibility of selling it to people at a very cheap rate.

“We do a furniture restoration project which is mainly furniture donated to our depot or through the furniture shop. We do recovering and touch ups then it goes for sale through our charity shops.

“Both of those projects are training opportunities for people with learning disabilities.”

It is now hoping to expand the recycling schemes and eventually become a recycling depot so residents can bring their rubbish to them.

Ms Terris added: “It gives us a really good base to improve our management and gives us a lot of opportunities for the future.”

For information about training at the centre, call Jon Dixon on 01277 653889.

To find out more about the Hamelin Trust or to donate good quality items to the depot go to www.hamelintrust.org.uk