Bright Sparks is a creative recycling and re-use community enterprise run by DigiBridge CIC – a social enterprise based in Islington. Bright Sparks has been operating since 2009, inspiring local communities in North London to improve the quality of their lives and local environment by creatively re-using their wasted household furniture and goods. In so doing we aim to reduce the inequalities experienced by those on low income in accessing affordable and essential household items that will enable them to make a house into a home whilst protecting and preserving the environment.
Our reuse operations offer training, volunteering and employment opportunities for vulnerable and marginalized people and those seeking employment. We support over 300 individuals each year through our community activities that raise awareness of and provide free access reused items and a further 25 through training, volunteering and employment each year. Over 4,000 benefit from access to affordable, reusable household goods, primarily those on low incomes. Overall our impact leads, improved quality of our environment, reduced social isolation, improved skills and confidence to access employment and improved wellbeing in accessing essential household goods to create a home environment.
Working with local partners, residents and councils in Islington, Waltham Forest and Camden, Bright Sparks regularly collects unwanted household furniture and other goods, preventing potentially re-usable and good quality items from going to waste and damaging the environment.
The goods we collect are repaired, cleaned and restored to a high quality and sold at very low, affordable prices to individuals in need through our two retail outlets. We also run regular community events that enable local residents to access smaller items of household goods for free in order to raise awareness of the benefits of reusing unwanted household items and preventing further damage to the environment. Items that are not re-usable may be used to create new household items through up-cycling.
We offer a small number of apprenticeships, volunteering roles and placements to young adults and others with special needs or who may be vulnerable as a means of developing their work and social skills, with many going onto permanent employment with us.