[thestens]

A smashing charity Healthy Planet has a number shops around the country where they give away books for free. The idea is to stop unwanted books from going into landfill. Each person is allowed to take 3 books on each visit. The books are from libraries , charity shops or personal donations.
Have a look at their website http://www.healthyplanet.org/home.aspx for the location of their shops.
They also seem to be having a 'Stuff for Free ' event at The Vision Warehouse in Acton on Sun13th Jan if you are in London .
Like all charities they are always on the look-out for volunteers.

[mumofstig]

They couldn't keep enough volunteers to keep our one open 

[Aunt Sally]

I can't find anything on their web site to say where their shops are.

[mumofstig]

you have to click on the map here
http://www.healthyplanet.org/projects/books-for-free.aspx

as I said on the thread the Ashford one is rarely open

[Aunt Sally]

None in Kent then.

[thestens]

Come on let's be positive its a good idea. I have been in the ones in Liverpool, Stockton and Darlington and they seemed busy and well 'volunteered'. Maybe its being 'up north' that does it. I suppose southerners just send the butler along ( Joke ).

[Aunt Sally]

Not a very funny one

Do you have any connection to the charity thestens ?

[thestens]

None whatsoever only as a user. I thought that it( the charity) fitted well in this forum but did sense some negativity in some of the replies so tried( obviously unsuccessfully) to lighten the mood.

Perhaps I will give up with this part of the forum if this is the way things are going. I think I may have invaded some peoples little club.

[mumofstig]

None whatsoever only as a user. I thought that it( the charity) fitted well in this forum but did sense some negativity in some of the replies so tried( obviously unsuccessfully) to lighten the mood.

Perhaps I will give up with this part of the forum if this is the way things are going. I think I may have invaded some peoples little club.

Why would you do that?  the only negative is me saying that ours is rarely open.........and that's the truth..........it's a fantastic idea, but sadly isn't working here I didn't say that to offend or put people off.
Why should pointing that out  bother you -  the scheme seems to be working well elsewhere 

[thestens]

More to do with lack of sense of humour - quite common joke in my circle about the North/South divide.

[mumofstig]

That may be, but us down South can get fed up with always being thought of as wealthy - when most of us aren't   

Would you stop talking to your friends just because they didn't laugh at one of your jokes..

I don't think so, so why do it here 

[joyfull]

it wouldn't be very green for me to use one of these centres - the nearest ones to me are Hemel Hempstead or Redditch - the cost of the fuel to get there would buy me several books .

[pdblake]

Isn't one anywhere near me. Shame, as it looks a good idea.

The local Tesco has a book table where you can take or leave a book though, which in some ways is similar.

[Agatha]

My nearest one is Oxford, so likewise, the cost of travel outways the benefits.  But it's a brilliant idea (and probably a good thing that the nearest shop is so far away...living near a place that gave me three free books every time I visit would probably mean I'd have to move into the garden shed by August, as the house would be full of books )