Paint re-use group Seagulls celebrates 20 years. It provided cheap paint, volunteer opportunities, + community benefits.
Two friends started it, wishing to help the environment and aid their local community. This idea came up in Burley.
Now, Seagulls gave training to many people. They also made community spaces better. Folks found positive, welcoming places thanks to them.
They work with Leeds City Council. In 2005, their first paint bin went to Pudsey. Seagulls then recycled lots of paint! They recycled over two million litres of paint, which equals six swimming pools or 750 elephants.
Volunteers gave 4325 hours in 2024. In 2024, they made over £1 million worth of impact through cheap paint, volunteering, and green benefits.
Leeds folks can give unused paint. They drop it at any of eight recycling sites, looking for the bright pink Seagulls bins, which helps reduce waste. The Water Lane store sells the recycled paint cheaply. The address is 129 Water Lane.
Cat Hyde co-founded Seagulls. She said the last twenty years were wild, with floods, Covid, and high costs that challenged them. They still thrive, and it’s worth celebrating.
She feels really proud. Seagulls cares about people and the planet. They keep growing and doing well. The group was on Kirkstall Road for years.
Seagulls celebrated this milestone on Wednesday, holding a party at Grangefield Industrial Estate in Pudsey.