Local environmental charity recognised in BBC “Make A Difference” Awards

The Proper Job Resource Centre, a pioneering community reuse charity in Chagford, has been recognised in the BBC Radio Devon Make A Difference Awards, earning a “Highly Commended” in the Green Award category. The accolade places the organisation among the top four environmental initiatives in the county, a testament to more than three decades of work promoting sustainability and community-led action.

The Make A Difference Awards celebrate individuals and groups across Devon who improve the lives of others, with categories ranging from Green and Community to Fundraiser and Carer. For Proper Job, the commendation shines a light on its long-standing mission to reduce waste, encourage reuse, and inspire sustainable living.

Proper Job traces its roots to a group of Chagford allotment holders who launched a community composting project in the early 1990s. The success of that initiative spurred the founding of a co-operative in 1995, which later evolved into a registered charity. Since then, the organisation has grown into a cornerstone of local environmental activity, with its main resource centre based at Market Field and its popular second-hand boutique, Uptown, located in Chagford Square.

Today, Proper Job offers a wide array of second-hand goods from clothing and books to furniture, tools, and building materials, at affordable prices, helping divert reusable items from landfill. The charity also runs repair and upcycling workshops, alongside educational programmes that encourage practical skills and sustainable habits.

The commendation from the BBC acknowledges the lasting impact of this work. “We are deeply honoured to be Highly Commended in the Green Award by the BBC Make A Difference judges. This recognition belongs as much to the community, volunteers, staff, and supporters of Proper Job as it does to us,” said Alison Sallis, CEO of Proper Job.

The recognition comes at a pivotal time, as 2025 marks Proper Job’s 30th anniversary. The charity plans to use the milestone year not just to celebrate its history but also to expand its outreach, grow its volunteer base, and share aspects of its successful model with neighbouring communities. Ensuring long-term funding and strengthening local engagement remain central to its future ambitions.

From humble beginnings in a compost heap to becoming a countywide model for reuse and sustainability, Proper Job’s story highlights the power of community action to tackle environmental challenges, and now its efforts have earned the recognition of one of the region’s most high-profile awards.