Borrow Don’t Buy, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that supplies everything from grass trimmers to camping gear has launched a crowdfunding campaign to keep providing Plymouth residents with the opportunity to borrow items instead of purchasing.
The Borrow Don’t Buy Community Interest Company (CIC) is asking for support from the community through its Crowdfunding campaign to keep providing Plymouth residents with borrowing, digital inclusion and waste reduction initiatives.
“Imagine a place where you could borrow anything from a grass trimmer to a sewing machine, a power drill to camping gear, instead of having to buy, store, or maintain it yourself. That’s exactly what Borrow Don’t Buy (BDB) offers.”
Plymouth’s first and only Library of Things is on a mission to secure its future with the launch of their new crowdfunding campaign. BDB’s goal is simple: to provide affordable access to hundreds of items people need, without the financial and environmental cost of ownership.
Since opening in 2018, BDB has facilitated over 6,000 loans and served more than 2,250 borrowers, and grown into a community hub dedicated to sustainability, digital inclusion, and resource sharing.
“Borrowing instead of buying helps the environment, reduces waste, and saves money,” says founder, Rob Wick.
“We want to make sure borrowing stays affordable and accessible for everyone in our community, and we are particularly passionate about expanding our digital inclusion initiative, but to do that, we need support.”
But it doesn’t stop there. By collecting pre-loved laptops, tablets, and phones, BDB transforms e-waste into e-quality, allowing people experiencing digital exclusion to get online for job searches, education, and staying connected with loved ones.
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Since 2020, BDB’s ‘Getting Everyone Online’ (GEO) project has refurbished and redistributed over 500 digital devices, helping more than 1,000 people in Plymouth get online and have access to the internet.
“We’ve worked with Borrow Don’t Buy to refurbish laptops for asylum seekers and refugees,”
says Andy Philips, CEO of ODILS Learning Foundation.
“Students have been able to connect with family abroad and access educational resources they couldn’t before. BDB’s work truly transforms lives.”
This new campaign is crucial for BDB’s continued growth and impact. With rising costs affecting all sectors, the organisation is keen to ensure borrowing remains accessible and affordable for everyone in the community.
Funds raised will support new initiatives such as an expanded volunteer programme, the development of their website and exciting new tech donation stations to help expand their GEO project.
To support the Borrow Don’t Buy CIC tap the link below.
