Canklow clean-up carried out by volunteers

VOLUNTEERS helped a skill-building recycling scheme clean up its Canklow premises.
By Dave Doyle
Published 20th Mar 2017, 12:21 BST
Updated 20th Mar 2017, 12:24 BST
Housing group, Target Housing, recently helped out community business, Casting Innovations, with a skip and willing helpers to help clear their new building in Canklow. Casting Innovations owner, (second right) Lee Brooks, is seen with the helpers. 170400-1Housing group, Target Housing, recently helped out community business, Casting Innovations, with a skip and willing helpers to help clear their new building in Canklow. Casting Innovations owner, (second right) Lee Brooks, is seen with the helpers. 170400-1
Housing group, Target Housing, recently helped out community business, Casting Innovations, with a skip and willing helpers to help clear their new building in Canklow. Casting Innovations owner, (second right) Lee Brooks, is seen with the helpers. 170400-1

The spruce-up crew removed rubbish from the site of Casting Innovations — a social enterprise turning tin cans into art and garden ornaments.

The firm saves tonnes of metal from landfill every year, while giving young people new skills and confidence.

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The tidy-up is the first step in a plan to expand the workshops and opportunities offered.

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Founder and director Lee Brooks said: “I’m very pleased with how it went. 

“We got ten young volunteers and we were there for most of the day.

“We got all of the outside cleared up after years and years of rubbish being thrown in.

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“Lots of people stopped and asked us what we were doing, so it was great for publicity as well.

“We took the kids to the KFC to thank them for their hard work and we did a casting demo because some of them hadn’t seen it before.”

Lee started Casting Innovations in his garage seven years ago. In that time his equipment has been stolen twice.

He added: “The site has always been a bit run-down, so this is stage one of a complete overhaul.

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“We want to get all of the buildings painted up and turn the storage rooms into workshops.

“We want it to be a local space for other community groups to come and use too. Somewhere that is fit for purpose and looks nice.

“We want to paint Canklow as a nice village to live in. 

“If we can set a good example, who knows what can happen.”

Target Housing provided a skip for the day and the housing association is also seeking funding for stage two of the refurbishment.

Business development manager Mark Allen said: “I’ve been working with Casting Innovations for about nine years.

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“They’re a real local-born social enterprise and they do fantastic work.”

He added: “Canklow is probably the place in Rotherham which most needs investment, after Eastwood.

“I’ve worked with social enterprises for years and this one shows real potential.

“It’s bringing steel back into Rotherham. 

“There’s nothing like it anywhere else.”

For more information, search for Casting Innovations on Facebook.

Related topics:Canklow