Two charities have once again joined forces to salvage summer festival tents for homeless people while also helping the environment. Homelessness charity Emmaus Hertfordshire, based in St Albans, has linked up with humanitarian charity Herts for Refugees (HFR) to repurpose discarded tents and sleeping bags. They took part in the annual clear-up operation following the Isle of Wight festival. Emmaus Hertfordshire's business development manager, Gemma Beckett, said that last year its team helped to collect 260 abandoned tents and 150 sleeping bags. Ms Beckett said the tents and sleeping bags were repurposes to "provide essential shelter and warmth to displaced people". This marks the fourth year the Emmaus community has supported Herts for Refugees in its ongoing festival salvage work. It helped them at the Boomtown festival in Hampshire in 2022 and the Isle of Wight Festival in 2023 and 2024. Angus Clark, chief executive officer of HFR, said: "People in need are people in need, no matter if they are at home or overseas, and we love working with Emmaus Hertfordshire." HFR was established in 2015 when the image of three-year-old Syrian refugeeAylan Kurdiwas seen around the world, after his body washed up on a Turkish beach. It started as a small collection in a flat in Watford but grew into an operation which filled seven storage units and led to a series of donation and volunteering convoys to Calais. Mr Clark said that as well as donating to France, they supported refugees and delivered aid to Greece, Lebanon, Syria or for wherever need arose. The charity carries out the salvage work at a number of summer festivals, with Reading Festival also on its schedule in August. Festivals have come under criticism for the sheer amount of waste generated, with71 tonnes of tents left behind at Readingin 2024. Although Festival Republic, which runs Reading and Leeds festivals, said the 2024 events saw a reduction in waste compared with the previous year. Mr Clarke has said it is more sustainable for festival-goers if theytake their equipment home. "The bigger picture environmentally has to be considered... we can only take such a small amount compared to what's left behind," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news onBBC Sounds,Facebook,InstagramandX.
Charities come together to recycle festival tents
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Emmaus Hertfordshire and Herts for Refugees Collaborate to Recycle Festival Tents for the Homeless"
Bbc News
8.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Charities Emmaus Hertfordshire and Herts for Refugees have collaborated once again to recycle tents and sleeping bags left behind at summer festivals, providing essential shelter for homeless individuals while promoting environmental sustainability. This initiative, which took place during the annual clean-up after the Isle of Wight Festival, has gained momentum over the past four years. Last year, Emmaus Hertfordshire collected 260 abandoned tents and 150 sleeping bags, demonstrating the significant impact of their salvage efforts. According to Gemma Beckett, the business development manager at Emmaus, the repurposed materials are critical for offering warmth and protection to displaced people, highlighting the dual benefit of environmental conservation and social support. This year, their collaborative efforts also included participation in the Boomtown Festival in Hampshire, indicating a growing network of support for those in need.
Herts for Refugees, founded in 2015, has expanded its mission from a small collection effort in Watford to a substantial operation that provides aid to various regions, including France, Greece, Lebanon, and Syria. Chief Executive Officer Angus Clark emphasized the importance of viewing the needs of individuals as universal, regardless of their location. He noted that the charity's salvage operations at festivals are crucial, especially considering the massive waste generated at events like the Reading Festival, where 71 tonnes of tents were left behind in 2024. Although Festival Republic, the organizer of Reading and Leeds festivals, reported a decrease in waste this year, Clark urged festival-goers to take their equipment home to promote sustainability. He expressed concern that the scale of waste generated at festivals must be addressed, as the charities can only salvage a fraction of what is discarded. The ongoing partnership between Emmaus Hertfordshire and Herts for Refugees reflects a commitment to community support and environmental responsibility, addressing two pressing issues simultaneously.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.