Most of the things you own have at some point been in a container, in transit from one land to another. However, recent trends have shown that shipping containers are becoming increasingly popular in fields you may not expect at all. We have all seen the shipping container houses, pop up shops etc, but find out below how shipping containers are being used in new inventive ways to brighten up some people’s Christmas this year.

1. Clothes Bank for Homeless

In Middlesbrough, Teeside Socialist Clothing Bank is using a shipping container to help provide some essentials to those without a home this winter. The clothes bank provides not only clothes but toiletries and hot food for those who need it. They have even made up packs for young pregnant women without a home that will provide them with everything they need for the baby’s first year of life. They are doing absolutely incredible work but need all the donations possible to try to keep as many people warm this Christmas as they can.

2. Bikes for Myanmar School Children

The next example takes us slightly further afield all the way to Australia. The charity Bikes 4 Life have sent a shipping container full of bicycles to disadvantaged school kids for Christmas. The bikes were all donated and refurbished throughout 2018 and this is the second container to be shipped out this year. The charity even reuses the shipping containers afterwards to refurbish the bikes in. These bikes will mean that the children will be able to get to school much quicker. Fantastic work!

You might also be interested in: Shipping Containers Make Dramatic Difference to the Industry

3. Housing for Homeless

Everyone has heard of using shipping containers for fancy houses or minimalist small homes. However, Cardiff council are building 13 one or two bedroom flats from shipping containers for the homeless. Homeless families will then live in them temporarily before permanent housing becomes available. Although the containers will not be delivered to site until February, knowing this is in the pipeline is fantastic. As a quick and cost-effective solution, hopefully, more councils across the UK will follow soon.

Featured image: © Wolfgang Vogt