Heres an idea

We have two very successful tool hire schemes run by tenants’ groups. Gateshead Housing Company residents can hire kit such as strimmers, drills, steam cleaners, wallpaper strippers and carpet shampooers for about £1.50 plus a £5 deposit, which is much cheaper than the shops.

The groups get grants from the council to buy the equipment and B&Q offers a bulk discount.

The groups need public liability insurance because they’re fairly dangerous tools. This costs up to £370 per year for each group, depending on the tools they have.

To satisfy the insurers, we send the people who run the tool hire on B&Q’s free courses. They instruct others on using the tools and give them safety equipment such as goggles. Our lawyers have also prepared a document that people must sign before they hire tools to confirm they can use them safely.

Storage can be a problem because tools need to be kept near residents’ homes. In one scheme, a tenant had a secure shed put in his garden. We paid for the concrete base and he paid for the shed. People can visit him for half an hour twice a day, four days a week to pick up tools.

These schemes do rely heavily on volunteers, but the benefit to the community is enormous.

We’re going to give a grant of £750 each to five more residents’ associations to set up schemes. We’re targeting established tenants’ groups because they can access grants from the council and they need grants if they want to add to their tools and pay insurance every year.