Jersey Electricity : Huge new Acorn Reuse Centre takes shape with help from Jersey Electricity

Acorn General Manager Steve Pearce (left) goes over the electrical specification with JEBS Contracts and Operations Manager Ian Whyte

Jersey Electricity's Building Services (JEBS) will soon be able to begin work in the new 1,700sq ft Acorn Reuse Centre being built in Trinity. The floor has now been laid on the site of one of Acorn's former huge nurseries and the roof is expected to go on in the next three weeks. Jersey Electricity is donating £25,000 of electrical works to the charity which has been supporting Islanders with disabilities since 1991.

Its social enterprises Acorn Woodshack and Acorn Nursery are already well established at the site and in January 2017 it launched Acorn Reuse Centre at La Collette. This has proved such a success the charity gained planning permission to turn 1,700sq ft of current nursery space into a brand new storage, workshop and retail marketplace for unwanted items upcycled from the La Collette Reuse Centre.

Ian Whyte, JEBS Contracts and Operations Manager said: 'Once the roof is on, the fit-out can begin and our men can get to work on the electrical installation. This is a marvellous enterprise, creating win wins all round. It reduces waste, it provides training opportunities and paid work for those who might find it difficult to obtain employment and it has a beneficial social impact by providing low cost or free goods to people in most need.'

Acorn Reuse Centre has already saved thousands of unwanted items from going into the waste stream while helping many Islanders with disabilities or long-term health problems train for re-employment. The new Trinity Reuse Centre is expected to save 1,500 tonnes of waste in the next five years while giving training and employment opportunities to a further 80 clients.

General Manager Steve Pearce said: 'Acorn Reuse Centre is the most ambitious social enterprise project ever undertaken in Jersey. All the money our various enterprises raise is reinvested with the aim of supporting more people with disabilities or long-term health conditions back into employment. We are very grateful that Jersey Electricity and JEBs are helping and supporting us by saving Acorn the significant cost of the entire electrical installation for our new centre.'

The centre is now expected to open this August.