New community reuse project coming to Golspie

Golspie Youth Action Project (GYAP) has secured £29,740 through Highland Council’s Reuse and Repair Fund to create a Community Reuse Shed in the village. The project builds on GYAP’s ongoing work supporting vulnerable and homeless young people, and reflects a growing focus on sustainability and community support.

The reuse shed will be based in a storage container in the garden of the Golspie Charity Shop, which GYAP took over in November last year. From there, the team plans to create a space where people can donate and access useful items that might otherwise go to waste.

Think leftover paint, DIY tools, gardening equipment, or craft materials - all things that often sit unused at home but could make a real difference to someone else. The aim is simple: reduce waste while making practical, everyday items more accessible within the community.

The idea came directly from GYAP’s experience supporting young people moving into their own homes, many of whom can’t afford essential household items. This project offers a practical, community-driven solution.

But it doesn’t stop there. The group is also planning a summer car boot sale, upcycling activities with young people, and even exploring the possibility of a community polytunnel in the future.

To help get the project up and running, part of the funding will go towards hiring a part-time charity shop manager. It’s hoped the role will be filled by the end of April, with the reuse shed launching by the end of May.

GYAP is also looking ahead, with an application submitted to the Kilbraur Wind Farm Community Benefit Trust to support the project’s first year of running costs.

The charity shop itself is already a real community hub, supported by 24 volunteers and open Monday to Saturday. As the project grows, more volunteers will be welcomed to get involved.

There’s more good news too. GYAP has secured an additional £5,000 from the Corra Foundation’s Household Hardship Fund, which will be used to provide food and fuel vouchers to local families facing financial pressure.

Altogether, it’s a strong step forward - not just in reducing waste, but in building a more connected, supportive and sustainable community in Golspie.