A TROOP of cyclists is on a mission to save hundreds of unwanted household items and donate them to charities and groups in need across the city.

Community action group the Circular Collective is hoping to inspire cities across the world with its new initiative using reusable, repairable and recyclable items.

It is the city’s first group of volunteers who collect non-food donations by bicycle from homes before handing them to charity shops, community projects and recycling centres for free.

Chairwoman Alexandra Mates, the brains behind the operation, said: “ People have got a lot of items that they don’t need and rather than disposing of them it would be good to take them to charity and various organisations.

“It’s promoting a more sustainable community and lifestyle and it’s supporting and feeding charities so they have more resources and increase their social impact.

“It’s another way of staying active. Oxford is a very good place to start because it has already got a rich cycle culture.”

A project co-ordinator at Oxford Retail Consultants, Miss Mates started the Circular Collective last December but officially launched it at Restore’s Garden Cafe, in Manzil Way, last month.

Miss Mates, who moved to Oxfordshire last year, said a 10-strong team of cyclists use one bike trailer to collect items from residents after they have booked a time slot online.

She said items of any condition can be donated, other than food and general household waste, which would be collected by Oxford City Council.

Donations so far have included clothing, shoes, jewellery, electrical items, computer equipment, bric-a-brac, bicycles and small home furnishings.

Items are then sorted at Miss Mates’ South Hinksey home as the team currently do not have a storage unit.

The 25-year-old added: “I feel like a force of nature. I feel like an instrument for implementing a change.”

Volunteer Tulum Cruz said the scheme could be rolled out to help older people who struggle to leave their home or take unwanted items to charity shops and recycling centres.

The 27-year-old learning disability support worker added: “There are people without internet access who are a bit more isolated but might have loads of stuff.

“If we are able to reach out, we could help other people who otherwise would not be able to donate their things. It could give people an opportunity to see someone as well.”

The team is now looking for storage space to sort donated items, as well as funding options and sponsorship.

* See circularcollective.org