Gunnislake resident Sam Byrne is collecting your rubbish for a pregnancy and stillbirth charity, Count The Kicks.

Count The Kicks is a UK registered charity that aims to empower mums to be with knowledge and confidence throughout their pregnancy, in order to reduce the number of stillbirths.

The UK has the second worst stillbirth rate in the developed world, ranking 33 out of 35 similar income countries. Approximately 17 baby’s a day are stillborn in the UK. Only 10% of stillbirths are caused by a fatal congenital abnormality, meaning there is potential to save up to 90% of stillborn babies.

A baby’s movements indicate its well being and a change in foetal movements can be a key warning sign that a baby is struggling in the womb. By reporting a change in a baby’s regular pattern of movement, there is better scope for identifying those baby’s at risk and ensuring a healthy delivery.

Count the Kicks produces leaflets with information on babies movements and what to do if a mum notices a change. These are distributed through midwives, at baby shows and in Bounty packs.

As the charity relies solely on public donations, one initiative to raise funds is recycling. I can collect many different items which the Council currently doesn’t, therefore saving a lot more waste from landfill sites.

If you live in South Hill Parish you can drop your recycled items off at Green Meadows between Golberdon and South Hill (Ali Humphreys).  Or in Trefinnick Road, Bray Shop (Glenys Wynne-Jones).  Or at Community Creations, Biscombe’s Lane, Callington.

The money generated through the recycling helps to fund the information leaflets mentioned above, and as each leaflet costs about 2p to produce, the charity are able to produce approximately one leaflet for each item that is recycled.

The recyclable items are:

* Empty baby food pouches (any brand) and lids, also Ella’s Kitchen snack wrappers.
* Washing up liquid tops/caps (any brand)
*Trigger tops from spray cleaning bottles (any brand)
* Empty plastic cleaning wipe packets (any brand)
* Plastic air fresheners/cartridges/packaging (no cardboard/glass/aerosols)
* Used Tassimo pods & foil wrappers (only Tassimo and no cardboard)
* Plastic biscuit wrappers – any brand, outer packets and individual wrappers but must be sweet not savoury.
* Empty Kenco eco refill packets.
* Empty printer ink cartridges and toner cartridges (not all will be profitable to CTK but ALL will be recycled)
* Used stamps – both UK and Foreign.
* Clothes/shoes/bags/sheets/towels – in good, clean and reusable condition (no underwear or swimwear)
* Pens – any type including Tippex pots and pens.

I am asking that you start collecting some of these items for the charity and to save landfill space.

Please feel free to join my Facebook page: CTK Recycling Collection Gunnislake where you will be regularly updated with donation totals and information and you can also see a full list of collection points and arrange for me to collect your recycling if there isn’t a collection point near you.

You can also contact me by email: sam.byrne@yahoo.co.uk