23/10/2024
WASTE NOT SOMERSET FUND BOOSTS LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND REDUCES WASTE - ♻️
Report by Stephen Collier for News Advertiser newspapers
The Waste Not Somerset Fund, a grant initiative set up to help community groups reduce waste and promote sustainability, is having a significant impact across Somerset. Jointly funded by Somerset Council and SUEZ recycling and recovery, the fund supports grassroots projects aimed at reducing waste, reusing materials, and encouraging sustainable living.
Managed by Somerset Community Foundation, the fund uses ring-fenced income from the sale of recyclable materials to support a variety of local initiatives. The scheme focuses on projects that minimise waste and promote repair and reuse, with recent grants helping groups in Wellington, Crewkerne, and Bridgwater.
Cllr Richard Wilkins, Somerset’s executive member for transport and waste services, praised the initiative, stating, “We want Somerset to be a greener and more sustainable place and, while recycling is great, reducing waste is even better. These grants have the added benefit of helping community groups grow with all the positives that come with a flourishing community sector.”
SUEZ’s senior community liaison manager, Lily Morton, highlighted the wide-reaching benefits of the initiative, explaining that, “Backing some of the amazing community groups in Somerset has been brilliant. Empowering community groups to tackle waste, alongside supporting their local community, is a win-win! Seeing what the groups have done with the funding, it’s clear that they are vital to changing resident behaviours towards waste. All the groups align perfectly with SUEZ’s vision to live in a world where there is no more waste.”
Fiona Foster, senior philanthropy manager at Somerset Community Foundation, added, “We’re extremely privileged that SUEZ and Somerset Council chose to partner with Somerset Community Foundation to create their Waste Not Somerset Fund. It’s great to be working alongside these experienced waste partners to support local groups and grassroots charities, working to reduce waste in the heart of our communities here in Somerset.”
One of the projects benefiting from the Waste Not Somerset Fund is the Best Before Food Store in Wellington. This membership scheme provides local residents with access to essentials, including personal hygiene products that would otherwise go to waste. Reflecting on the scheme’s impact, a spokesperson for the store said, “Coming to the Best Before Food Store has helped me massively and prevents products from going to landfill. Nothing has to be wasted. It has made me think about products in a different way.”
The store has also expanded its activities by hosting monthly cooking demonstrations aimed at reducing food waste.
Another group benefiting from the fund is Prodigal Bikes in Crewkerne. This small charity collects unwanted mountain bikes and refurbishes them with the help of local volunteers, including individuals with special educational needs and mental health issues. Thanks to the grant, Prodigal Bikes processed 170 bikes, saving around 2.5 tonnes of waste. Forty of these bikes were donated to local refugees, providing them with a sustainable mode of transport. Anthony Raybould, the charity’s operations manager, expressed his gratitude, saying, “We really appreciate funding like this which we can use to support our running costs.”
In Bridgwater, the Victoria Park Community Centre has also benefited from the Waste Not Somerset Fund. The centre’s Local Pantry, which started in February 2023, prevented 2.45 tonnes of food waste in just five months. Laura Fowler, the centre’s manager, commented on the social value of the project, saying, “The social value of the Pantry not only means reducing food waste but we're able to support people on low incomes through the cost-of-living crisis, adding value to their weekly food costs with amazing foods, valued at approximately £20.00 for £3.50 per week.”
The centre has also used the funding to run workshops including a clothes swap, family cooking sessions, and reusable personal hygiene product demonstrations, all aimed at promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
For more details about the fund and its projects, visit the Somerset Community Foundation’s website at - www.somersetcf.org.uk.