Material deprivation recognised

A report by the Scottish Executive has announced new measures for categorising material deprivation.

In the Scottish Households Below Average Income 2005-2006 report, the Scottish Executive recognised material deprivation as an issue affecting low income households. This includes lack of furniture and household appliances, an issue that the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) has been working to improve.

Network Director of the CRNS, Iain Gulland, commented: "We hope this report sends out a message to local authorities, housing associations, Communities Scotland and others that the provision of these goods provide a measurable reduction in poverty in this country and that helping reuse projects should become a standard element of local strategies to end poverty."

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the Furniture Re-use Network, added: "This builds upon the excellent report published by CRNS, which shows that furniture reuse projects assisted almost 70,000 people in Scotland, 55 per cent of whom were previously homeless. With increased investment in this sector a much larger number of people could be helped."

For more information on community recycling in Scotland visit: www.crns.org.uk