Seagulls marks 20 years offering recycled paint, community support and skills training in Leeds, minimizing waste.
Two friends started it at a kitchen table. Their idea helped the environment and the local Leeds community. Seagulls gave training, plus chances to volunteer. They brightened places like Water Lane and Leeds Market.
Seagulls worked with Leeds City Council from the start. The first paint drop-off was in Pudsey in 2005. Since then, they have recycled lots of paint, like filling six pools!
In 2024, volunteers gave 4,325 hours. Seagulls gave Leeds residents over £1 million in value. This includes cheap paint and volunteer work. Founder Cat Hyde won an award in 2023; they won another in 2024.
Leeds residents can drop off unused paint in pink bins at recycling centers. Seagulls recycles the paint and sells it cheap. Find the store at 129 Water Lane, Holbeck.
A council member, Mohammed Rafique, is quite proud. He sees Seagulls turning waste paint into a resource, offering vital social benefits like training, workshops, and volunteering.
Co-founder Cat Hyde called the last 20 years a ride, despite floods, COVID, and a cost crisis. Seagulls puts people and the planet first, and despite it all, they are still here!