Well known furniture upcycler Lynne Lambourne (Lovenellie.co.uk) from Henley On Thames recently visited Emmaus Oxford’s charity shop as part of a national upcycling challenge for Recycle Week (25th September – 1st October).

To celebrate this year’s Recycle Week Emmaus UK challenged five of the UK’s top upcycling bloggers to turn unwanted goods donated to Emmaus charity shops into new bespoke items.

On her visit to Emmaus Oxford Lynne picked out a collection of vintage glassware, which she has tuned into vintage glass planters. The one-off pieces will be sold to raise money for Emmaus Oxford’s work with homeless people across Oxfordshire.

Lynne said: “The Emmaus shops are full of ‘treasures’ that can all be recycled and put to good use again, I found so many interesting pieces and the best bit is you are supporting the great work they do with the homeless at the same time. I think everyone deserves a place to call home and the Emmaus community and the opportunities they provide the homeless is really inspiring.”

Now in its 14th year Recycle Week aims to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from around all around the home. Last year Emmaus communities across the UK recycled or reused 3202 tonnes of unwanted goods that would have otherwise gone to landfill.

Emmaus Oxford provide a home and meaningful work in a social enterprise to 28 formerly homeless adults in the Oxford area.