ALTON Community Share will reuse, recycle and relaunch at St Lawrence Parish Centre, Church Street, this Saturday – having loaned out more than 1,100 games, books, toys, jigsaws, musical instruments, films and craft activities since June 10.

Relocating from Alton Community Centre, its home for the past three months, Alton Community Share will now open twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, from 10am to midday, starting from September 12.

The volunteer-run initiative was created by Alton Climate Action and Network as part of Alton Town Council’s response to Covid-19.

Thanks to the generosity of Alton residents, who donated hundreds of items to share with their community, it has been open four days a week, throughout the summer months, providing an eco-friendly swap shop of toys, games, books and activities to keep families busy during lockdown and the summer holidays.

Since opening on June 10, it has supported more than 90 families and individuals to keep busy or try something new, while more than 300 books have been donated to local residential care homes, and over 400 children’s books to primary schools.

A spokesman for the group said: “We’re very grateful that we have been able to secure a future for this initiative. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, by donating items, by visiting, borrowing items and volunteering their time.

“Thank you especially to the Revd Lynn Power and Revd Andrew Micklefield of The Parish of the Resurrection for offering a new home.

“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to help so many people to keep busy, save money by not needing to buy new, and reduce waste by re-using things.”

Anyone can borrow toys, games and activities, free of charge for up to four weeks. Items donated are quarantined to ensure there is no possibility of transmitting Covid-19 from them.