Moira Replan started out as a charity that re-trained people for new careers in the 80s as the area's coal mining industry fell into decline.

And 32 years later it is still providing as service to the local community.

But it has moved with the times and - with the Co-op's funding - plans to set up a repair shop specialising in recycling household items that might otherwise end up in a landfill site.

Over the past two decades, Moira Replan has seen over 1,200 people come through its doors looking to access learning facilities that would not normally be available to them.

The charity provides a wide range of support services to the local community as well as meeting rooms for a number of local groups which are appreciated by organisations on low incomes.

They also have a partnership with Leicestershire County Council Community Services and Adult Learning Services.

Moira Replan is one of Ashby Co-op's chosen charitable causes and they are using the to renovate a garage on their site to provide extra working space for the repair facility.

Founder Graham Knight says the world may be a different place now compared to the late 80s but says their place in the community is still relevant.

"We were formed during the time of the pit closure programme but it actually came about through NIACE - the National Institute For Continuing Adult Education - for areas of high unemployment," he explained.

"In most of the areas they put money into the local authority, but in Moira they set up a standalone project with an independent management committee.

"We had funding for three years and we did a survey and found the greatest need was among 'women returners'. Women coining back to work after starting a family but didn't have the skills.

"And for about 20 years we concentrated on computer training and rural skills projects.

"But things changed 12 years ago, they produced new money but dropped adult training education budgets.

"Our Outreach work disappeared and we had to find a new way forwards so we had to move into leisure activities - our biggest project is pottery and that's been a success."

Graham explained how Moira Replan would be using the Co-op money.

"We're looking at building a local repair shop and a way of promoting re-using household equipment, stuff we tend to throw away because it's not meant to last that long - but it can be repaired," he said.

"People are good at recycling but they still throw away a lot of stuff that's still serviceable. The idea is we can get a repair shop going alongside an educational programme saying 'Don't throw it away'.

'Anything metal should never go into landfill site, it should be recycled.

"We concentrate on cans and things like that, but we want to repair, reuse recycle.

"But we might pass on things to charity shops or to scheme where tools are sent to third world countries.

"The building we want to use the Co-op money for is a garage which needs a new roof putting on.

"We're on lockdown at the moment, but we've started work. But, for instance, we need new light fittings.

"We need the new roof but we also had a donation of equipment, working lathes, that sort of thing, when Granville School in Swadlincote demolished their technology block.

"We hope to get back to some sort of normality later in the year when we intend to start promoting the scheme."

For more information on Moira Replan click here.