Be a bright spark in Finsbury Park!

The

Bright Sparks Shop is a fantastic service that repairs, resells and recycles unwanted or broken electrical

items. If you have a kettle, TV or computer that doesn't work and are thinking of throwing it away, why not take it in to the shop and find out if the engineers there can fix it or find it a better home?

Since the shop opened in June the number of electrical goods collected has leapt from from about one tonne a

month to one tonne a week. The shop has so far sold items to 739

people. Funded by Islington Council and run by

social enterprises Digibridge with London Community Resource Network, the shop is the first of its kind in London.

Bright Sparks also provides opportunities for local people to learn valuable skills processing the electrical goods. Sorting, repairing, testing and recycling work is carried out

by a team of trainees and volunteers, including local young people

learning skills.

Kayas Miah was

unemployed before coming to Bright Sparks through the Future Jobs Fund.

He says, "Bright Sparks has provided me with valuable work experience and

a chance to use my skills while tickling my interest in electronics and

gadgets."

Cllr Catherine West,

Leader of Islington Council, says, "There’s

a wonderful team working hard to repair and reuse everything from

toasters to TVs. It’s also keeping tons of useable goods out of rubbish

bins – saving on landfill bills and helping the environment."

If you're looking for good-value electrical good, or want to get rid of unwanted items, just pop into the

shop at 225-229 Seven Sisters Road,  from Tuesday to Saturday from 12.30pm to 5.30pm (7pm

on Thursdays).

For more information about volunteering call 020 7561 5515 or email shop@brightsparksonline.com.