Materials handling specialist Briggs Equipment is helping a major UK charity to fund specialist equipment for disabled children through recycling everything from clothes to homewares.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children provides grants for essential equipment that can relieve pain, aid mobility, assist communication and support the independence of children with disabilities and terminal illnesses. A close neighbour of Briggs Equipment, the organisation is based just half a mile away from the company’s headquarters and national service centre in Cannock, Staffordshire,

As well as supporting Newlife’s more familiar fundraisers, such as the Santa Dash, Briggs Equipment has supplied the charity’s trading division, Newlife Trading, with two Hyster four-wheel electric counterbalance forklift trucks. The five-year lease contract with full maintenance incorporates a flexible servicing package, giving Newlife a clear picture of costs so that it can review and control its spending.

Newlife Trading recycles goods donated by major brands such as Next and River Island and then sells them at bargain prices through its stores. The aim is to help retailers implement their environmental and social responsibility policies while also generating funds to support the charity’s work.

The Hyster forklifts will be used at Newlife’s hugely successful 10,000 sq ft Superstore in Cannock to unload bales of clothes into the warehousing area for recycling.

Tony Roper, Operations Manager at Newlife Trading, said: “The stores are a critical part of our trading operation, delivering a revenue stream that helps fund the work carried out by Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.

“Our recycling operation, which is getting bigger all the time, needs to work efficiently to process the donations we receive and keep the stores well stocked. Briggs Equipment has provided an excellent solution to our materials handling needs. Robust, reliable Hyster equipment backed by a first class maintenance plan from Briggs will help our warehouse deliver a quick turnaround.”

Hyster Regional Sales Executive at Briggs Equipment Paul Robinson said: “As Newlife’s stores continue to grow in popularity and more and more businesses sign up to take part in its recycling programme, it’s vital for Newlife Trading to have a slick warehousing operation. We are delighted to help the trading division improve its materials handling capability so that it can continue to expand and drive the charity’s fundraising efforts.”

As well as providing grants for essential equipment, Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children runs the UK’s only national emergency equipment loan service for terminally ill children. The charity also funds vital medical research to help understand, prevent and treat premature birth-related conditions, birth defect conditions, cancer and acquired disorders.