Sharing is Caring
By Kathryn Sutter
Many readers will be familiar with the Hastings Give and Takery. What started off as a small Facebook group (Swap Cycle Hastings), has now turned into a flourishing one of over thirteen thousand members, giving and taking items that they no longer need. On any given day, posts appear for anything from beds to crockery; perhaps the strangest item yet, a Nissan Micra! All items in the group are free, no money changes hands and re-selling is frowned upon.
Scott Garrett, one of the current admins of the group, explains its beginnings: “When the group started, it… was more of a general hub, for sharing things like workshops, job opportunities, skill-sharing and useful things left out on the street. The name was changed to Give and Takery in 2018; it really took off in the next three years with the focus more on giving and taking items. At heart it’s a group about re-use that benefits the environment and the community.”
Before and after
CREDIT: Mikaela Brown
A quick look at the group Facebook page shows many people grateful for the items they have received. Dig deeper and the importance of the group as a community resource is clear. Mikaela works with young people in care. Through the group she has started an upcycling project, helping the young people turn old bits of furniture into new pieces. They then take these with them when they move into independent accommodation: “The upcycling often opens up conversations and gives the young people a sense of accomplishment. It also teaches them life skills about how to turn the old into the new,” says Mikaela.
Members of the group also regularly help people going through a tough time or in need of items to start afresh. Before Christmas, Emily was low on funds and unsure how she would be able to celebrate the season with her young son. Members of the group came to the rescue and Emily received a hamper so that she and her son were able to have a Christmas meal: “The hamper included ingredients for a whole Christmas dinner! It included a whole chicken, vegetables and a cheesecake,” she says. “It really meant the world to us. We were able to have a Christmas dinner we will never forget, giving our Christmas an extra sparkle.”
Ally with one of her creations
CREDIT: Ally Dally
Items in the group often highlight how one man’s rubbish really is another man’s treasure! Ally has collected at least 400 corks from the group which she has made into cork art, from Christmas wreaths to candle holders (see her Corky Creations Facebook page).
During the pandemic, small connections made through the group often made a real difference, as Judy explains: “I had quite a few lovely experiences over the Covid period. I gave away a sizeable collection of CDs to a sweet woman who has become my hairdresser and friend. Another woman brought me a bouquet of flowers picked from her garden as a thank you for an item.” Often just a simple chat on the doorstep or a wave from a window meant a lot to members.
“We’ve had a particularly tough couple of years as a society and our members have really stepped up to make things that bit easier for many others in the group,” says Scott. “To think of all the items that haven’t ended up at the tip, perfectly good items, but just not needed anymore; that makes us very happy.”
• To join the group search Hastings Give and Takery on Facebook.
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