Vinty@Coety – Clothes Recycling

Tell us about your project:

The Climate Leaders designed and now run their own website, which can be found at https://sites.google.com/hwbcymru.net/vintycoety/home.

Through the website, families can view available items and use an online order form to request clothing discreetly. This was important as some families did not feel comfortable taking clothes directly from rails outside the school, although this option is still available. The aim of Vinty@Coety is to recycle clothing responsibly, support families, and strengthen community spirit. The project empowers pupils to lead meaningful change while making a positive environmental and social impact.

 

What did you do and how did you involve the whole school?:

We launched the Vinty@Coety project as a whole-school initiative to ensure everyone could be involved. Families across the school are encouraged to donate good-quality uniform and clothing, and all pupils were introduced to the project through whole-school assemblies. Climate Leaders then visited classes across the school to explain the purpose of Vinty@Coety, how the clothing recycling system works, and how pupils and families can donate items responsibly. Every pupil in the school has access to the clothing, either by using the online order form on the website or by visiting the clothing rails in school. By involving all classes, families and staff, Vinty@Coety has become a shared project that promotes inclusion, sustainability and community responsibility.

 

How and why did you decide on this target?:

We decided on this target because we were fed up with seeing large amounts of old uniform and lost property filling cupboards and not being used. It felt wasteful when the clothes were still in good condition and could be helping others. As Climate Leaders, we wanted to give these items a new life instead of letting them sit unused or be thrown away. We also recognised that some families may need financial support, especially with the cost of school uniform. By recycling clothing through Vinty@Coety, we could reduce waste, support families, and make a positive difference to our community. This target allowed us to take real action that benefits both the environment and the people in our school.

 

How has the project impacted on your school and your community?:

Although Vinty@Coety is a new project, it has already had a real impact on our school and wider community. The response from families has been extremely positive, with a high number of donations of good-quality clothing and uniform. Items are already being reused through the website, helping to reduce waste and ensure clothes are given a second life.

The project has had a particularly strong community impact by removing barriers for families who may not feel comfortable being seen taking clothing from rails outside the school. The online order form allows families to request items privately and collect them discreetly, ensuring dignity and inclusion for all. As a result, more families are engaging with the project, strengthening community trust and reinforcing the idea that everyone at our school can access support when needed.

 

How did you celebrate success and what are your next steps?:

We have celebrated success by sharing and promoting the progress of Vinty@Coety across the school, including assemblies, class discussions and updates to pupils and families. Celebrating small successes has helped keep momentum high and shown pupils that their actions are making a real difference. Our next steps are to continue developing the website and expanding the project further. While the main focus has been on school uniform, we are beginning to branch out into other reusable items, which are now being added to the ‘Other’ section of the website. This will allow us to recycle more items, reduce waste further and support more families. As the project grows, we aim to strengthen pupil leadership and ensure Vinty@Coety continues to have a lasting impact on both our school and the wider community.