A Morning at Canley: Sharing Coffee, Conversations, and a Commitment to Reuse
On 14th May, we made our way to Canley Community Centre for what turned out to be a warm and inspiring morning. Over cups of tea and coffee, we chatted with representatives from local charities and community groups, all brought together by a shared purpose: to give a second life to the University’s unwanted furniture and electrical items.
This gathering marked the official relaunch and expansion of the University’s Donation Partner initiative. With a renewed focus on sustainability and regional support, the scheme now partners with a growing network of local organisations. The goal is simple but impactful: to prioritise reuse, refurbishment, and redistribution over recycling and disposal, ensuring that surplus items continue to serve a purpose long after their time on campus.
At the heart of this initiative are the University’s commitments to sustainability and regional leadership—two of our core strategic pillars. By improving our internal systems and working more closely with the community, we’re making it easier to extend the life of useful items while directly supporting local organisations.
Seven fantastic charities have now been formally welcomed into the donation scheme:
- Emmaus
- Carriers of Hope
- Canley Community Centre
- Canley Community Church
- West Coventry Academy
- Recycle Your Cycle
- Grapevine
- Saints Nuneaton
These organisations will now be able to receive donated items and put them to good use in their vital community work across the region.
The newly launched Estates Furniture Statement of Principles directly supports the donation partner scheme.
What's Next?
If your department has furniture or electrical items that are no longer needed, please remember to list them first on Warwick Swap. If they aren't claimed internally, you can request a collection via the Estates Helpdesk. If they're suitable, they will either be stored for future University use or passed on to one of our new charity partners.
To help keep donations in good condition, we kindly ask that items are stored indoors until collection.
This isn’t just about furniture or old electronics—it’s about working together to make a positive impact. With your help, we’re making meaningful change happen—on campus, and beyond.