A BRADFORD-based project has made an appeal for more volunteers to help spruce up the district.

Bradford Community RePaint, based in Adelaide Street, is looking for more people to join its 11 volunteers who help redecorate a range of locations.

The not-for-profit organisation, which started in 2001, is one of 75 Community RePaint projects across the UK.

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They collect surplus, reusable paint and redistribute it to individuals, families and communities in need.

Across the UK people are preparing to take part in Volunteers’ Week which starts next Monday. The Bradford branch is looking to take this opportunity to recruit more volunteers.

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Community RePaint is the UK’s paint re-use network and last year the Bradford group collected 94 tonnes of paint.

It also has collection points at household waste sites across the Bradford district.

Its shop also sells paint to community groups and projects as well as completing redecoration work.

Its volunteers help decorate the homes for people on low incomes across the Bradford district and also have partnership with a range of groups including social housing group Incommunities.

Karen Hutchinson, Bradford RePaint project manager, said the project was going from strength-to-strength.

She said: "We are always taking on more volunteers.

"It is also a way for people to get back into work, if they have been long-term unemployed.

"Last year we had 137 volunteers for four-week stint. We also had 17 for six-month spells with us.

"There is a huge market for our services. We sell two-and-a-half litre tins of paint in our shop for £5, in DIY stores they would cost about £17. People and community projects can't always afford that.

"We also have volunteers that go out twice a week to collect paint from various locations.

"A lot of our volunteers stay on with us for a long time. At the moment, we have one volunteer who has been with us for the last five years."

Last year, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 446,650 litres of leftover paint to Community RePaint schemes across the UK, which then distributed 302,256 litres to community groups and individuals.

Many of the schemes rely on volunteers to help with the running of their organisations and projects, 508 volunteers support the Community RePaint network.

Martin Pearse, Community RePaint network manager, said: "By re-using paint to support volunteers and their projects Community RePaint can help to bring a splash of colour to communities across the country.

"Purchasing paint for your project at a significantly reduced price means your funds go further, and you’re helping to protect the planet by preventing perfectly good paint from ending up in landfill or heat treatment."

To become a volunteer through Bradford Community RePaint, call 01274 737267. For more information, go to communityrepaint.org.uk/need-paint or call 0845 1800501.