BY LUKE GASSMANN, ZOE MATTHEWS AND ADAM BROWNE

WE are a small group of young people, aged 15 to 17, passionate about climate change issues and we are organising a sustainability event for the whole community in Gillingham.

The ‘Give or Take’ events are funded by ‘Communities Living Sustainably’ as part of the Dorset Big Ideas Challenge.

Join us from 12-4pm on Sunday, February 7 and again on Saturday, February 13 at Gillingham Youth Centre on Cemetery Road.

Everyone is encouraged to bring unwanted items such as clothes, toys, kitchen utensils, electrics, etc to give away and/or is welcome to take anything they like. Everything, including entry, is free.

Even if you don’t have anything to give away, come along and see if there are any items you want or need. The aim of our event is to recycle as many unwanted items as possible by finding them a good home.

Plus, there will be free tea and coffee, energy saving tombola, homemade beauty product samples and a demonstration of an innovative prototype to charge mobile phones by walking.

We all have different reasons for choosing to take part in the event.

Luke: “I chose to be involved in the project because I've always wanted to help the environment in some way ever since I was very young, and I felt that this would be a great way to give something back.

“I was very excited about the entire idea and felt we could bring a change to the way we perceive environmental issues.

“This event is very important because, even though we're only young, I think we realize that so much waste goes to landfills.

“Also, it has made me more aware that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

Zoe: “I decided to get involved because I was interested in making a difference to the community, and enjoy working as a team with my peers.

“I think the event is important because it will make people realise how much energy and waste they produce and it will encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle.”

For more information on the event, email bigideaschallenge@gmail.com.