A charity has joined forces with a waste disposal company in a deal to help the needy and vulnerable benefit from other people's unwanted goods.

Residents across Medway can now donate reusable items to the Gillingham Street Angels which has installed giant containers at all three of the council's tips.

Furniture, electrical goods, homeware, tools and toys are being collected by the charity and taken to its new base at the former Argos store in Chatham High Street.

They will then be sold on at discounted prices or donated to those who are in desperate need and cannot afford household essentials.

GSA chief executive Neil Charlick said: "It's a win-win situation. We are talking about goods which would otherwise have been smashed up and ended up in landfill."

The partnership has been struck with Medway Council and Medway Norse, which manages recycling centres on behalf of the local authority.

The scheme is now up and running at the sites at Capstone, Cuxton and Hoath Way, Gillingham.

Mr Charlick started the award-winning charity from a room above a garage in Gillingham in 2018 and since then it has gone from strength to strength, with three charity shops, three cafes, a warehouse, soup kitchens and an allotment.

Mr Charlick, who was once homeless himself, said: "I can no longer wing it as a man with a van.

"It's about being sustainable. You can't wave a pot at people and expect people to give money, because they don't have it these days. People just don't have a pound to spare."

As the organisation he runs with wife Tracy has expanded, Neil is now able to employ 20 paid staff and relies heavily on an army of volunteers.

He said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Medway Norse and Medway Council.

"Our ethos is to repair, reuse, recycle and repurpose where possible. This contract will provide the opportunity for us to offer community groups where people can come together to learn and share new skills by upcycling unwanted items."

The charity supports thousands of people across Medway and now further afield and was last year named the overall Pride in Medway winner.

Cllr Phil Filmer, the council's portfolio holder for frontline services, said: "I am pleased that we are working with Gillingham Street Angels.

"By donating quality second-hand items to charity instead of throwing them away, residents will be helping the environment, contributing to a more sustainable future and supporting a Medway charity which helps some of Medway’s most vulnerable residents.

"We are extremely grateful to all of the charitable organisations and community groups who support residents.”

The project also supports the council's climate change ambitions.

For more information, click here visit: medway.gov.uk/DonateReusableItems and to book a trip to one of Medway’s HWRCs, click here.visit: medway.gov.uk/TipBooking

"This is a great opportunity to join our amazing charity, supporting your community..."

Meanwhile, the charity is looking forward to opening a new cafe at Rochester Riverside in the next two weeks.

It will be housed at Bellerophon House in Doust Way and will open every day, hosting craft workshops and community activities.

The charity posted: "Exciting news. Following the success of our Gillingham/Maidstone Cafes we are opening a Cafe in Rochester."

It is looking for volunteers for its cafe and its Gillingham Street Angels Grill, with roles including front of house, cooks and cleaners.

"This is a great opportunity to join our amazing charity, supporting your community," the post added.