I’m always interested in clever ideas for making our communities better and Freecycle is one of those ideas.

It originated in the US but now has UK groups up and down the country. The first UK Freecycle group was set up in London in Oct 2003. There are now 459 groups spread across the country, with 1,002,328 members.

The idea is simple if you have something you would like to get rid of you email the group and people who want it will email you back and arrange to pick it up from you. That’s it – it’s that simple.

You can get rid of almost anything except animals and family members. The only restriction is that it has to be given away for free.

I have got rid a whole load of stuff from IT bits and pieces, furniture, a 6ft by 50ft roll of bubble wrap (it’s amazing what you find lying around). I have also done rather well is getting some new things. So far, I’ve picked up a colour laser printer and a fully operational Victorian stove.

Have a look on the Freecycle UK website for your local group and if there isn’t one start a campaign for a new group in your area – a friend of mine set up our local one and it has gone from strength to strength.