Page 173 - Guerin Media Ltd | Active Retirement Ireland Members Annual 2016
P. 173
BALLYMUN REGENERATION ENVIRONMENT
The Rediscovery Centre -
Driving Real Social and Environmental Change
Ballymun had a reputation for crime and drug problems since the Ballymun flats were built in the
1960’s as a solution to poor living conditions in inner city Dublin. In Ballymun today, every tower save
Joseph Plunkett Tower has been deomlished and appartments and houses built in their place. The
area has seen a radical facelift, challenging perceptions and blazing a path to a positive future for all.
The Rediscovery Centre founded in 2005 as an initiative of TICKING ALL THE ECO BOXES WITH REUSED PAINT
Ballymun Regeneration, is an innovative social and The Rediscover Paint project, an innovative paint reuse
environmental enterprise unlike any other. It’s mission is to scheme, is the first of its kind in Ireland. Environmentally
divert waste from landfill through reuse enterprises and to friendly and cost-efficient, it involves collecting leftover paint
provide educational, training and employment for reuse, processing it and mixing it into top quality colours.
opportunities for its local community. The Rediscovery Centre KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING
has four enterprises: Rediscover Fashion, Rediscover Rediscover Cycling was established in 2012 to promote
Furniture, Rediscover Paint and Rediscover Cycling providing recycling of bike and bike parts, to encourage cycling as an
training and job opportunities for the local community. The enjoyable eco-friendly activity and to provide training and
Rediscovery Centre team also researches effective work experience. “We’re keeping bikes on the road, which keeps
eco-friendly approaches and promotes positive behavioural fumes out of the air. It’s cool to be involved in that.”
change through educational workshops with business and REPURPOSING AN ICONIC LANDMARK
primary and secondary level students. Thanks to a successful €3.6M application from the Redis-
covery Centre and Dublin City Council to the EU’s LIFE +
BRINGING LIFE TO OLD AND UNWANTED Environment Fund, Ballymun’s iconic old Boiler House is
FURNITURE set for a green revamp. The plan is to convert the landmark
Rediscover Furniture is just one of the Rediscovery Centre’s building into a “3D textbook”, and use it to promote positive
4 successful social enterprises and focuses on the redesign, behavioural change with regard to resource management and
repurposing, up-cycling and recycling of old and unwanted efficiency. The building itself will serve as an educational tool
furniture. Operating from a workshop in Ballymun teams are to inspire thought, action and reaction - a celebration of the
trained to offer furniture reuse, repair, restoration, polishing, positive impact design can have on its community.
upholstery and re-finishing services. Training is a critical GET INVOLVED
component of all four social enterprises and the Rediscovery The Rediscovery Centre team aims to continue their mission
Centre is proud of its record of employing local people. of promoting reuse and social enterprise for many more
Celebrating fashion old and new decades to come. If you are interested in volunteering and
donation opportunities, or finding out more about any of the
Rediscover Fashion( winner: Arthur Guinness Award 2010) Rediscovery Centre’s social enterprises programmes, visit us
involves a number of educational programmes to raise online or call us- we would love to hear from you!
awareness of the environmental benefits of donating and
repurposing materials and old clothing to prevent them going
to landfill.
www.rediscoverycentre.ie tel: 01-8429811
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 173
The Rediscovery Centre -
Driving Real Social and Environmental Change
Ballymun had a reputation for crime and drug problems since the Ballymun flats were built in the
1960’s as a solution to poor living conditions in inner city Dublin. In Ballymun today, every tower save
Joseph Plunkett Tower has been deomlished and appartments and houses built in their place. The
area has seen a radical facelift, challenging perceptions and blazing a path to a positive future for all.
The Rediscovery Centre founded in 2005 as an initiative of TICKING ALL THE ECO BOXES WITH REUSED PAINT
Ballymun Regeneration, is an innovative social and The Rediscover Paint project, an innovative paint reuse
environmental enterprise unlike any other. It’s mission is to scheme, is the first of its kind in Ireland. Environmentally
divert waste from landfill through reuse enterprises and to friendly and cost-efficient, it involves collecting leftover paint
provide educational, training and employment for reuse, processing it and mixing it into top quality colours.
opportunities for its local community. The Rediscovery Centre KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING
has four enterprises: Rediscover Fashion, Rediscover Rediscover Cycling was established in 2012 to promote
Furniture, Rediscover Paint and Rediscover Cycling providing recycling of bike and bike parts, to encourage cycling as an
training and job opportunities for the local community. The enjoyable eco-friendly activity and to provide training and
Rediscovery Centre team also researches effective work experience. “We’re keeping bikes on the road, which keeps
eco-friendly approaches and promotes positive behavioural fumes out of the air. It’s cool to be involved in that.”
change through educational workshops with business and REPURPOSING AN ICONIC LANDMARK
primary and secondary level students. Thanks to a successful €3.6M application from the Redis-
covery Centre and Dublin City Council to the EU’s LIFE +
BRINGING LIFE TO OLD AND UNWANTED Environment Fund, Ballymun’s iconic old Boiler House is
FURNITURE set for a green revamp. The plan is to convert the landmark
Rediscover Furniture is just one of the Rediscovery Centre’s building into a “3D textbook”, and use it to promote positive
4 successful social enterprises and focuses on the redesign, behavioural change with regard to resource management and
repurposing, up-cycling and recycling of old and unwanted efficiency. The building itself will serve as an educational tool
furniture. Operating from a workshop in Ballymun teams are to inspire thought, action and reaction - a celebration of the
trained to offer furniture reuse, repair, restoration, polishing, positive impact design can have on its community.
upholstery and re-finishing services. Training is a critical GET INVOLVED
component of all four social enterprises and the Rediscovery The Rediscovery Centre team aims to continue their mission
Centre is proud of its record of employing local people. of promoting reuse and social enterprise for many more
Celebrating fashion old and new decades to come. If you are interested in volunteering and
donation opportunities, or finding out more about any of the
Rediscover Fashion( winner: Arthur Guinness Award 2010) Rediscovery Centre’s social enterprises programmes, visit us
involves a number of educational programmes to raise online or call us- we would love to hear from you!
awareness of the environmental benefits of donating and
repurposing materials and old clothing to prevent them going
to landfill.
www.rediscoverycentre.ie tel: 01-8429811
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 173
