Oxford Wood Recycling (OWR) was established in 2005 by Richard Snow, Nick Dowling and Helen Porter who had met during a postgraduate Forestry degree at Oxford University. Their mission is to address the wasteful attitude towards wood products in the UK by providing alternative waste management solutions.
Building on Richard’s social enterprise business experience there was also an opportunity to enable people facing severe disadvantages to get back into mainstream employment. Using these two issues as pillars of an organisation, Oxford Wood Recycling (OWR) was created and based in Milton Park, Didcot. By 2015 OWR had outgrown that space and relocated to Abingdon, just off the Drayton Road.
Oxford Wood Recycling recently scooped the Award for Social Responsibility at the Vale 4 Business Awards in recognition of the positive impact that the business has on the local community. Whether making wood products or handling timber, Oxford Wood Recycling believes that working with wood is very therapeutic!
Oxford Wood Recycling carries out an average of 150 waste wood collections a month from both commercial and domestic sites. The majority of wood is sent to power stations and the rest of sufficient quality is reused. Volunteers help to clean up the reclaimed wood and offer it for sale through the Abingdon Wood Shop. All of Oxford Wood Recycling’s financial surpluses are re-invested back into the organisation.
Oxford Wood Recycling offers beneficiary placements in wood waste management, business administration, sales and marketing. Since 2005 OWR has worked with over 55 people and almost 200 volunteers.
Oxford Wood Recycling now partners with other social enterprises and enabling charities in Oxfordshire who share its aims.
We seek Trustees who can think creatively and strategically, with effective communication skills and personal skills and qualities shown below.
