Rescued & Ready
Rescued & Ready is a new ILM Highland project focused on repairing and reusing small household electrical items while helping local people develop practical, hands-on skills.
Reuse Containers
At Highland Council Recycling Centre in Nairn, Inverness, Wick and Thurso, you will find dedicated re-use containers.
These are for working electrical appliances that are undamaged and safe for storage. Instead of being recycled, these items are set aside for reuse through our RESCUED & READY initiative.
This gives appliances a second life, helps others access:
- Affordable Essentials
- Reduces waste even further
Every Saturday, we share available items on our Facebook page. All items are offered on a first come, first served basis.
Each appliance is fully tested and ready to use, so you can shop with confidence.
Reducing Waste Across the Highlands
Instead of throwing items away, we bring them back into use, making them available to the community at affordable prices while building confidence in repair and reuse.
Rescued & Ready is funded by The Highland Council through the Highland Reuse and Repair Fund, which supports projects that reduce waste and promote reuse across the region.
This funding enables ILM Highland to expand the repair of small household electrical appliances, deliver community workshops, and increase access to affordable refurbished items, creating lasting environmental and social benefits across communities in the Highlands.
What the Project Does
By combining repair work with community learning, Rescued & Ready supports a stronger culture of reuse across the Highlands.
Repair
Repairing small electrical items such as kettles, toasters, lamps, microwaves, and hairdryers and more
Reduce Waste
Reducing waste by keeping useful items in circulation
Provide Access
Providing access to affordable, refurbished electrical products
Support
Helping people learn how to repair, maintain, and extend the life of everyday items
Who It’s For
Our workshops are designed to be open, welcoming, and accessible to a wide range of people.
They are ideal for anyone who wants to:
- Learn practical repair skills
- Save money by fixing items instead of replacing them
- Access affordable electrical appliances
- Meet others in a relaxed, friendly environment
No prior experience is needed, just an interest in learning and getting involved.
Get Involved
Our workshops provide practical, hands-on learning you can apply at home straight away.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Learn how to safely repair everyday electrical items
- Understand how appliances work and why they fail
- Build confidence using tools and equipment
- Work alongside experienced staff in a supportive setting
Workshop: Repair, Reuse & Save – Small Electricals
A hands-on, practical workshop designed to help you repair everyday electrical items, use them safely, and help them last longer. Participants can bring in their own small appliances to see if they are fixable in the workshop.
Discover Our Workshop
We start with a short introduction over tea or coffee, where you’ll meet the team and other participants, get an overview of the session & learn what to expect and how the workshop will run.
Identifying Common Faults
We begin by looking at why small electrical items stop working. You'll learn:
-
- The most common faults in items like kettles, lamps, and toasters
- How to spot simple issues
- When something is likely repairable
Safe Working & Tools
Before getting hands-on, we'll guide you through how to work safely. You'll learn:
-
- Basic electrical safety
- What's safe to handle and what isn't
- How to use tools correctly
- What PAT testing is and why it matters
Hands-On Repair Session
This is the main part of the workshop, where you’ll put your learning into practice. You will:
-
- Safely open and inspect items
- Look at common faults in more detail
- Work on real repairs with support from experienced staff
- Fix common faults such as plugs, fuses, and wiring
- Build confidence using tools and techniques
Repair or Replace? Making the Right Call
We'll help you understand when a repair makes sense. You'll learn:
-
- How to decide if an item is worth fixing
- What to look for when something isn't repairable
- How to avoid unnecessary replacement costs
Making Items Last Longer
We finish by focusing on prevention and reuse. You'll learn:
-
- Simple ways to maintain appliances
- How to extend the life of items at home
- Practical tips to reduce waste and save money
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
At the end of the session:
-
- Ask questions and get advice
- Find out how to access affordable refurbished items
- Learn about future workshops and how to stay involved
- Give feedback on workshop.
What To Expect
- A relaxed, friendly environment
- Hands-on learning with real items
- Support from experienced staff
- No prior experience needed
- Tea, coffee, and a warm welcome included.
When & Where
Workshops will take place at:
ILM Highland Unit 1G, Teaninich Industrial Estate Alness, Ross-shire, IV17 0XS
Workshops are running regularly throughout the year.
Give Your Electrical Items a Second Life
You’ll find reuse containers at recycling centres in Nairn, Inverness, Wick, and Thurso, making it easy to pass on small electrical items you no longer need.
These containers are for working, undamaged appliances, where items are kept safe and protected from damage before being collected by our team.
Through our Rescued & Ready project, these items are carefully selected, fully tested, cleaned, and refurbished ready to be used again. This keeps good-quality appliances in circulation rather than going to waste.
How Your Donations Make a Difference
By donating, you’re helping to:
- Reduce electrical waste through repair and responsible reuse
- Support affordable access to household items
- Give appliances a second life in your local community
Every item is checked and ready to use, so customers can shop with confidence.
Rescued & Ready products are available in-store at our Alness and Inverness locations, and we share new items every Saturday on Facebook so you can see what’s available each week.
Alternatively, feel free to pop in and have a browse—you never know what you might find.
- 10:00 - 12:00
- 13:30 - 15:30
- 10:00 - 12:00
- 13:30 - 15:30
- 10:00 - 12:00
Join us
Workshop times vary between morning (10am – 12noon) and afternoon (1.30pm – 3.30pm) sessions. To sign up, simply get in touch via email at [email protected]. Our Rescued and Ready workshops are always at ILM Highland – Unit 1G, Teaninich Industrial Estate, Alness, Ross-shire, IV17 0XS
Please see our calendar for upcoming dates and times.
Get Involved
Interested in taking part or learning more? You can register your interest in upcoming workshops, partner with us, or donate small electrical items for repair. Alternatively, you can send us an email at [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as possible.