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Charities and community organisations across Kirkby, Merseyside, are invited to apply for a share of £50,000 from the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund, which is now open for 2025 applications.

The fund, which launched in 2018, supports wellbeing and environmental projects within the communities of Northwood, Cherryfield, Shevington, Whitefield, and Prescot North. The initiative is linked to the Knowsley Rail Transfer Station, operated by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA).

Victoria Crabtree, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said: “We are proud to continue supporting Kirkby’s incredible range of community groups. The projects funded last year have had a real, visible impact—from improving mental health and fitness to tackling food waste and building stronger communities. We are excited to see what this year’s applicants will bring forward and encourage all eligible organisations to apply.”

The fund is part of an ongoing agreement between Merseyside Energy Recovery Limited (MERL)—of which SUEZ is a shareholder—and MRWA. For every tonne of household residual waste transported from the transfer station, 10p is donated to the fund. It is an integral part of putting people and the planet at the forefront of the local communities that we serve.

In 2024, 11 projects were awarded funding, benefitting thousands of Kirkby residents. Successful applicants included:

• Kirkby Milers AC for a youth fitness and wellbeing initiative.
• Kindred LCR, which established a women-led community hub.
• Knowsley Foodbank, which launched a circular food-growing project with greenhouses and chickens.
• Mind Connect, offering free mental health hubs and education sessions.
• Tower Hill ABC, which expanded its boxing club and built a hub for elderly residents.
Councillor Catie Page, Chairperson of MRWA, said: “It’s brilliant to see how this fund continues to support the people of Kirkby. Local groups do so much to bring communities together, and MRWA is proud to be part of something that helps them grow, thrive, and make a real difference where it matters most.”

Not-for-profit groups, charities, and community organisations operating in the eligible areas are encouraged to apply for funding.

The deadline for 2025 applications is Friday 25 July 2025.

Those interested in applying are invited to attend an Open Day on Wednesday 25 June 2025, where they can meet the team, ask questions, and get guidance on submitting a strong application.

Further information, application guidance, and stories from last year’s recipients can be found at:
www.suezmerseyside.co.uk/kirkbyfund

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About SUEZ recycling and recovery UK
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK employs more than 7000 people, operating across hundreds of sites, and handles approximately 11 million tonnes of waste materials every year – a significant proportion of the UK’s total waste. Through collection, treatment, recycling and logistics operations, it serves more than 30,000 business customers and millions of householders throughout the country. Please visit https://www.suez.co.uk to find out more.

Contacts:

Samantha Carty
Email: samantha.carty@suez.com
Mobile : 07870540576

An investment of £165,000 from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 will enable twelve community groups in the Liverpool City Region to spearhead efforts in waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.

This funding, a partnership between Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia, will fuel grassroots initiatives designed to foster sustainable habits among local residents.

Earlier this year the organisations had to bid for the funding which will give them the financial support to deliver waste-reducing behavioural change projects across the region.

The successful projects encompass diverse activities like educational workshops for schools, electrical repair hubs, food waste reduction cookery classes, clothes and textile upcycling, furniture restoration, and community food growing and composting schemes.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA, praised the initiative, saying:

“The Community Fund is instrumental in enabling local groups to become environmental leaders, ultimately contributing to a healthier region. It’s heartening to see a growing appreciation for the value of our natural resources. The inspiring and diverse ideas presented this year made for a tough selection, highlighting the dedication within our communities. We know these projects have the potential to create lasting change and embed positive habits.

 

“We wish them all the very best and eagerly await the results of their hard work.”

Project applications had to tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely Food, Furniture, Electricals, Plastics and Textiles.

An analysis* of waste in the Liverpool City Region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be reused or recycled.

One project which previously received funding in 2024/25 is the youth-led initiative Feed the Need, supported by Vibe UK, who have been running food waste reduction and educational programmes for young people thanks to the Community Fund (picture below).

 

Helen McGorrin, Area Manager of Vibe UK, said:

“We were honoured to support our young people from St Helens Youth Council to lead on this project, using the Community Fund to give young people the knowledge, tools and confidence to make informed decisions when it comes to reducing their food waste. The project has helped young people better understand the role they play and how they can support their families and the wider community to reduce food waste.

 

“The funding helped us to run peer led workshops, create an educational video and challenge book, and strengthened relationships in the community. We rescued and redistributed food and shared resources including shopping lists, meal planning sheets and reusable containers as physical ways to support people to make improvements by careful planning to reduce overspending/shopping and utilising leftovers. This is really embedding generational change in young people that will stay with them for many years beyond the project.”

The twelve successful 2025/26 Zero Waste Community Fund organisations have got until March 2026 to deliver their projects. More information about each project is included below.

*Statistic from Merseyside and Halton Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22

Organisation and Project	Material focus	Project Summary
The County of Merseyside Guide Association                                           Guiding towards Food Waste Zero	Food and Plastic	A collaboration between the Guiding Association and a food skills expert – training Guide and Brownie Leaders across Merseyside in practical skills like reducing food waste through improved cooking, growing food, and composting, aiming to influence positive changes at home.
D HUB 67 C.I.C.  Full Circle Project	Food, Plastic, and Textiles	The project will establish a community garden to grow food and enhance biodiversity. This produce will then be used to showcase cooking skills in creative and healthy meals, while also demonstrating proper food storage and preservation methods. Additionally, community swap events for textiles will be organised, with any surplus materials being repurposed and repaired into useful items.
Earth Moves     Earth Moves	Food	The project will actively involve local people through hands-on workshops and the creation of a Hügelkultur bed using organic waste. This process will be carefully documented, and accessible resources will be developed to inspire and enable local schools, community members, and environmental groups to replicate this sustainable gardening technique.
Faiths4Change      Transforming Throwaways to Treasures	Food, Plastic, and Textiles	This project contributes to the region’s climate change strategy by facilitating practical sustainable activities, notably reuse and repair workshops tailored for young adults. A final event will be held to disseminate the project’s findings and explore potential avenues for building upon its successes.
Friends of Bowring Park                                        Reclaim & Sustain Project	Food, Textiles, and Electricals	Building on the success of the previous ‘Fix-it’ pilot, this project will scale up and replicate its model across various Liverpool communities, employing diverse approaches to repair and reuse. Activities will include a range of workshops focusing on food waste prevention, bike repair, clothing reuse and repair, and electrical item repairs, alongside awareness campaigns and accessible resources. These efforts will be supported by a Fix-it Festival and a Zero Waste celebration, showcasing repair activities and offering drop-in repair services.
Friends of South Park Let’s Grow! Not Throw!	Food, Furniture, and Plastic	The project will foster skills development and create employment opportunities for the local community and volunteers through practical training in woodwork, cooking, upcycling, and community composting & gardening.
Forum Creative   Enterprise Charity      Waste to Taste	Food and Plastic	This initiative will empower young adults in Liverpool who have been homeless by equipping them with crucial independent living skills, including practical cooking abilities, knowledge of balanced nutrition and food management, and valuable skills in composting and growing their own food.
Groundwork Merseyside      Mint Meals, Minus Waste	Food	This project, in partnership with South Liverpool Homes, will take a practical and community-oriented approach to improving food-related skills. Through workshops and shared resources, residents will learn about smart shopping, effective planning, optimal food storage, healthy cooking, appropriate portioning, and inventive ways to use leftovers. Community composting will also be a key element.
Hazelhurst Studios   Runcorn Repair Cafe	Furniture, Plastic, Textiles, and Electricals	The project will establish a monthly repair café and a community PAT testing service, empowering local residents with practical repair skills through guidance from local specialists. A media campaign will raise awareness and reinforce key messages. The project will culminate in a community event showcasing its successes and facilitating future planning.
Squash Liverpool CIC                                          TREASURE – Food and Textiles for Real	Food and Textiles	Empowering young adults to make informed choices about fast food and fashion, this educational program will cultivate skills in growing, cooking, managing, and preserving food. It will also teach valuable techniques for clothing repair and reuse. Learning will be brought to life through interactive training workshops, impactful large-scale community events across Liverpool City Region, and enriching visits to local community projects.
Syrian British Cultural Centre CIC                                        From Waste to Creativity: Empowering Communities through Recycling and Innovation	Food, Furniture, Textiles, and Electricals	This project will champion responsible waste management throughout the Liverpool City Region, engaging schools and community centres. Key activities include an Eco Innovation Lab, a Recycle & Repair Programme, a Green Entrepreneurship Academy, and impactful events designed to foster lasting behavioural change. The project aims to significantly reduce textile waste through repair and reuse workshops, extend the lifespan of furniture and electrical appliances via refurbishment initiatives, educate communities on effective food waste reduction techniques, and promote the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.
Willowbrook Hospice Willowbrook Waste to Community Uses Challenge	Furniture, Textiles, and Electricals	This initiative will offer opportunities for repairing, repurposing, and reselling items through Fix-it cafes, mending, repair, and upcycling workshops, and clothes swapping events specifically for hospice patients and their families in Liverpool. The project will also train volunteers in repair skills and host engaging competitions, culminating in a public Re-Fashion show.

Sustainable Starts CIC, a not-for-profit organisation in Liverpool, has successfully launched a series of initiatives aimed at making sustainable living affordable and attainable for families, thanks to £8,000 in funding from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2024/25.

The project, which launched in summer 2024, has made significant strides in reducing waste and fostering a supportive, well-connected community. The funding has enabled Sustainable Starts CIC to deliver a range of impactful services, including:

Quarterly Clothes Swap Events: Promoting reuse and reducing textile waste.
A Growing Toy Library: Providing access to toys and reducing the need for new purchases.
Weekly Playgroups for Toddlers: Creating a space for families to connect and learn.
A Cloth Nappy Lending Library: Reducing disposable nappy waste and offering an eco-friendly alternative.
Monthly Cloth Nappy Library Workshops: Providing education and support for using cloth nappies.

Anna Martin, Chairperson of Sustainable Starts CIC, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are absolutely thrilled with the impact this project has had on local families. It means so much to our team to see the community coming together and embracing sustainable living. The funding from the Zero Waste Community Fund has been instrumental in making our vision a reality, and we are excited to continue building a more sustainable future for Liverpool.”

This month the project will reach a significant milestone with the opening of a permanent venue for its toy library at Queen’s Dock Business Centre in Liverpool’s vibrant Baltic Triangle. This dedicated space will further enhance the accessibility and impact of the toy library.

The Zero Waste Community Fund, delivered by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia, aims to increase reuse, recycling, and sustainability across the region. Sustainable Starts CIC’s work directly contributes to this goal by promoting a circular economy and cutting waste levels.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said: “We are delighted to see the success of Sustainable Starts CIC’s project. It’s fantastic to see how this funding is helping to cut waste and save families money. These initiatives are making a real difference in our community, and we are proud to support them.”

The project’s focus on lending libraries is a key component of its success, as these initiatives directly prevent the creation of waste, a crucial element in building a circular economy. By providing access to reusable items, Sustainable Starts CIC is empowering families to make sustainable choices while reducing their environmental footprint.

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Notes to editors:

Attached image captions: Sustainable Starts CIC parent toddler events in Liverpool

About Sustainable Starts CIC:

Sustainable Starts CIC is a not-for-profit community organisation based in Liverpool, dedicated to promoting sustainable living and supporting families. Through a range of initiatives, they aim to make sustainable practices accessible and affordable for all.

About Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority:

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the management of household waste in Merseyside and Halton. They are committed to promoting waste reduction, reuse, and recycling through a variety of initiatives, including the Zero Waste Community Fund.

A recent survey conducted ahead of Liverpool City Region’s Repair Week 2025 has uncovered that residents spent an average of £459.51 per person replacing damaged or broken items they believe could have been repaired over the past year. This figure represents a staggering £185 million[1] based on a sample of Liverpool residents, highlighting significant potential planet and money savings to be made through learning to repair rather than throwing away and replacing.

Liverpool City Region Repair Week 2025, running from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th March, aims to address these issues with numerous events planned across the city – many of them free. Workshops will cover a range of skills, from mending clothing and fixing electronics to repairing furniture and bicycles.

What’s more beyond practical, money-saving skills, repair workshops offer social benefits; 69% of sampled residents surveyed agree that these workshops provide excellent opportunities to meet new people and build friendships in their neighbourhood. In fact, 57% report having made friends at a Repair Workshop.

Key survey findings[2]:

• • 67% of sampled residents are concerned about the cost of replacing broken items in the coming year

• • 73% would prefer to repair items themselves if they knew how

• • 78% expressed interest in learning repair skills to save money

• • The most commonly discarded items without checking for repair options are: clothing (42%), toys (40%) and shoes (38%)

Despite these concerns, the survey reveals a growing appetite for repair culture in Liverpool:

• • 66% of residents enjoy repairing items with others and want to learn more

• • 70% would attend more repair events if they were available locally

• • 77% report a sense of achievement from repairing things

When surveyed about their most repaired items, clothes, bikes, and items with sentimental value topped the list. For example:

“I have repaired my clothes and shoes so many times. Most of my clothes are years old. It’s hard to say which ones are the oldest at the moment, but I have a fleece I bought in 1999 which I wore for 20 years and now my daughter wears.”   “A patchwork quilt that has been repaired and added to for many years. I can trace it back to my great-grandmother (my mother was orphaned, so we’re not sure how far back it was started).”   “The same dog toy. I have sewn it back together multiple times because the dog tears it apart, but it’s his favourite toy. When we replaced it with the exact same toy, he wasn’t interested; he still wanted the old destroyed one.”

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) said:

 “Liverpool City Region Repair Week is about empowering people to extend the life of their possessions, save money, reduce waste, and build their community. Whether you’re motivated by financial savings, environmental concerns, or simply want to learn a new skill and meet new people, there’s something for everyone at this year’s event.”

The Liverpool City Region Repair Week Showcase and Launch Event, which will be hosted at DoES Liverpool, is just one of many events included in a busy schedule. Several listed events are free to attend, with some requiring advance booking. For a comprehensive list of events, repair hacks, and a directory of professional repair services, visit https://www.zerowastelcr.com/repair-week-2025/.

By participating in Liverpool City Region Repair Week, residents can join a growing movement of conscious consumers, potentially saving hundreds of pounds while contributing to a more sustainable future for the city.

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[1]  Extrapolations of the data to represent the whole of Liverpool for value of damaged or broken item(s) which could have been repaired. The survey data was weighted to ONS Mid-Year population estimates, 2022, 18 + population figures for Liverpool.

[2] All survey figures obtained from combining answer options “Strongly agree” and “Somewhat agree”

Friendly weekly Upcycling group at Calderstones Park is looking for new members, launching a Saturday group and appealing for furniture donations.

The Reader’s dedicated community Upcycling Group, which has been running for more than five years, is looking to expand and is offering free workshops for members. Two friendly and open weekly volunteer group sessions committed to restoring or ‘upcycling’ furniture and other items meet every Friday at The Coach House – one of the Liverpool charity’s spaces in Calderstones Park, in the same courtyard as the Ice Cream Parlour and The Storybarn.

They take place between 10am-1pm; and 1-4pm. Thanks to new funding from Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) the Upcycling group is able to offer three free workshops for volunteer upcyclers in January and February. Designer and upcycler Nicky Cash, who runs Done Up North, a Wirral-based upcycling business, and has appeared on the BBC’s flagship upcycling programme, Money for Nothing, as an artisan, will be leading workshops on Wood Revival and Restoration; Upholstery skills and Metallic design.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), said: “This is an outstanding project, and I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in its successful delivery. By empowering people with the skills to repair and refurbish items, this initiative promotes a circular economy by reducing waste and unnecessary consumption. “The workshops are inspiring, demonstrating the value of keeping usable furniture out of the waste stream and ensuring it continues to serve its purpose within our communities. I strongly encourage the development of similar initiatives that divert valuable furniture from the waste stream and ensure it continues to serve its purpose within our communities.”

The Upcycling Group is also looking for new members on a Friday, as well as announcing plans to establish a second group on a Saturday, with thanks to further funding from Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and launching an appeal for furniture donations which could be upcycled. No upcycling experience is required by anyone interested in joining the group, and the group has projects ready to be worked on. It receives support from volunteer leads and members of staff from The Reader, who will train members to use equipment when necessary.

Mary Crotty, Engagement Manager at The Reader, the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity, which runs more than 490 shared reading groups across the Liverpool City Region and rest of the UK, said: “Our Upcycling Group is a friendly and dedicated community of volunteers. The drop-in group – which has morning and afternoon sessions – is incredibly welcoming and keen to get stuck into new projects and ideas.

“They add such a unique string to our bow of community wellbeing groups. I’d strongly encourage all who are curious to get in touch and have a go.”

Members of the group restore second hand, antique or vintage wooden furniture by sanding, re-varnishing, waxing or painting. They make repairs as needed, upholster and re-purpose older pieces of furniture or household items. Projects can vary from turning an armchair, an old bike and standard lamp into a pedal-powered reading-light-chair for children in The Storybarn to repurposing bookcases and picture frames.

An upcycled piece of furniture can be returned to the owner, sold to raise funds towards The Reader’s charity work, created for use within the charity or sold to partner organisations, such as housing associations at a discounted rate, ensuring furniture goes to go to those most in need.

• Anyone who has a potential item they would like to donate should programmes@thereader.org.uk including a photograph of the piece. Furniture may be in need of minor repairs. The group is unable to collect furniture from people’s homes.

• Anyone who would like to join the upcycling group or like some more information can email Mary at programmes@thereader.org.uk

CASESTUDY (with photo of Hilda Kiernan)

Hilda Kiernan, from the Wirral, came to attend a Shared Reading group at The Reader after the pandemic around three years ago and ended up joining the charity’s community Upcycling Group. A creative and former medical secretary, she has a degree in fine art and literature while also volunteers for Heart4Refugees on the Wirral, running art therapy for Syrian refugees.

She said: “I am very much into recycling and upcycling. It is so satisfying to create something new out of something which would have been thrown away.

“I did up a couple of piano stools and am currently sanding down a rocking chair – what I like about that is being in the fresh air of the park surroundings, chatting to the dog walkers. It’s very rewarding especially when someone likes what you’ve made and buys it.

“It’s lovely to see creativity around you and we are guided and supported by The Reader’s Operations and Facilities team.

“There are half a dozen of us in the Friday morning group and they are all absolutely lovely people. We are a mixed group from all walks of life but everyone is welcome. Outside of the group we have a meet up lunch and over Christmas both groups we all went to a pub for a Christmas lunch together which was great. “We’re all looking forward to the upcoming workshops.”

Community groups in the Liverpool City Region are invited to apply for a share of £165,000 to support innovative projects that reduce waste and promote a greener future.

The Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 – managed by Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and Veolia – provides funding for community and voluntary groups, social enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations to implement projects that minimise household waste, maximise recycling and resource reuse, and mitigate carbon emissions.

Grants of up to £30,000 are available for projects that benefit at least four districts within the City Region, while grants between £1,000 and £8,000 are available for projects focused on a single local authority area.

Councillor Catie Page, Chairperson of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), emphasised the vital role of community groups: “We deeply value our partnerships with the region’s dedicated community groups. They are the heart of our communities, actively working to create a positive environmental impact. By empowering these groups to address local waste challenges, we not only benefit the environment but also foster a greater appreciation for resources and the value of reducing waste.”

Bids must tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment), Food, Textiles, Plastics and Furniture. An analysis* of waste in the region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be re-used or recycled. Projects can also include other household waste materials, for example paper or metals.

Previous Community Fund projects have included local recycling guidebooks, lending libraries, repair cafes, cookery clubs to support healthy eating and reduce food waste, fruit and veg gleaning, restoring old furniture to sell for charity and refurbishing unwanted rugs for resale.

One organisation to have previously received funding is Wirral Environmental Network (WEN), who were awarded £6300 for their Clothes Swap Cafes project, which aimed to reduce textiles waste through clothes swap events, sewing and repair workshops, and educational activities.

Naomi Graham, project co-ordinator at WEN, said the Zero Waste Community Fund Clothes Swap Cafe project has helped people across Wirral to take a more sustainable approach to fashion:

“We have enjoyed getting to know the people who have attended our Sustainable Fashion workshops and volunteered at the Clothes Swaps. Through the workshops, we had discussions about the environmental costs of fast fashion, chatted about how to make greener clothing choices, and then upcycled unwanted clothes and fabric into items such as bags and hair scrunchies.

“The success of the Clothes Swaps and workshops has encouraged some of the venues to hold more swapping events and think about ways they can provide support for reducing textile waste within their communities.”

Interested groups can apply to the 2025/26 Community Fund via www.merseysidewda.gov.uk/zero-waste-community-fund/

The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Sunday 9th March 2025.

Successful projects should receive the funding by mid-April 2025 and will have to deliver their schemes by March 2026.

Organisations interested in this year’s Community Fund can:

• • Apply online at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk

• • Contact the Authority: Community.fund@merseysidewda.gov.uk

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: Sunday 9th March 2025, 11.59pm

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Note to editors

*Statistic from Merseyside and Halton Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22

Image captions: Attached images show Wirral Environmental Network Clothes Swap Café events.

• • The £165,000 comes from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26, which has been running annually since 2006.

• • The impact of the 2022/23 Fund saw 13 projects stop 467 tonnes of materials from going to waste, held 731 events and training sessions, and engaged with over 16,000 people across the Liverpool City Region.

• • The Zero Waste Community Fund is open to community and voluntary sector groups, faith groups, not for profit social enterprises and schools in Merseyside and Halton.

• • Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside. Established in 1986 following the abolition of Merseyside County Council, it is a statutory Authority that works with all the local authorities on Merseyside – Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. MRWA takes a lead in advocating recycling, waste minimisation and safe and effective disposal of waste for Merseyside residents.

A local, green-fingered group have secured funding to help grow food and cut waste – all from their community garden in a Bootle park.

Friends of South Park in Bootle, Sefton, have received £7985 from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2024/25 to deliver the Compost Creators! project. The Fund supports local waste prevention, reuse and recycling initiatives and is managed by Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia.

The food-waste fighting Compost Creators! project will see household kitchen and food waste taken to South Park on Balliol Road (pic below) for composting. The group will deliver food skills and cooking sessions to local residents, who will also take part in food gleaning and seed saving.

Chairperson of Friends of South Park, Nick Karstens, said: “The funding is allowing our project to engage people into thinking differently about types of waste and how they can reuse, recycle, donate or share food they may have at home, creating and contributing to a circular economy on their doorstep. We want to introduce participants to the concepts and methods of preventing food waste and composting and to encourage small changes to daily routines that will contribute to long term positive changes in household waste management.”

The funding will help the project to train new volunteers, giving them knowledge about where food comes from, learning different ways to cook, preserving foods, increase the reuse of containers to store food, and how to recycle food waste through garden composting.

Friends of South Park have just hosted The Great Pumpkin Smash Day for families and the local community (Sat 2nd Nov – pic top) where they encouraged people to bring their carved Halloween pumpkins for composting. For intact pumpkins there was a cooking demo and tasting, to show how to cook and eat leftover pumpkins. Another open day in August attracted 30 families who took part in upcycling craft activities and harvested and cooked food ‘on the spot’ whilst in the garden.

For the eight month long project, Friends of South Park hope to:

– deliver 27 weekly drop-in sessions at the South Park Community Garden

– host two community events (one general food waste/recycling event, one an celebratory end of project community meal for 30 people)

– recruit 20 local households for involvement in community composting

– help 15 people to attend a veggie glean/forage in partnership with the South Sefton Foodbank

– engage with over 400 people

Nick Karstens continued: “We have made a big effort to include families and children as a target audience alongside our volunteers and individuals, to build a future culture of responsibility for waste. By the end of Compost Creators! we hope those involved will be eating a more balanced diet, will have confidence in teaching others about composting and recycling, and will have reduced the amount of food waste they were previously creating.”

Councillor Catie Page, Chairperson of MRWA, said: “We are delighted to support this project. The facts show that on average we throw away an estimated 122,000 tonnes of food every year on Merseyside – that’s almost a third of the average general household waste bin. That includes millions of loaves of bread and litres of milk.

“Food waste is a big issue with significant environmental effects. Projects like Compost Creators can help people to recognise the impact of wasted food and hopefully save households money on grocery bills.”

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• Image captions: Photographs from The Great Pumpkin Smash Day (Sat 2nd Nov) at South Park, Bootle, Merseyside.
• Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside. Established in 1986 following the abolition of Merseyside County Council, it is a statutory Authority that works with all the local authorities on Merseyside – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. MRWA takes a lead in advocating recycling, waste prevention and safe and effective disposal of waste for Merseyside residents.
• The MRWA and Veolia Community Fund 2024/25 has seen 16 community groups from Merseyside and Halton receive a funding boost to help make the region a cleaner and greener place. The financial support will see the groups help reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource re-use, and prevent carbon emissions. Funding total is £165,000.00.

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority have today launched a new campaign which provides a unique and informative view of the journey of recycling across Liverpool City Region. Through a newly created series of videos, residents from Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral can learn more about where their recycling goes once collected from kerbside, and how it is sorted for reprocessing and redistribution to the recycling markets. Combined, the six districts of Liverpool City Region currently hold an average household recycling rate of 34.74%. This figure provides a foundation to build from – however, the Authority recognises that collectively as a city region, we can do much better. The Journey of Recycling campaign has therefore been launched to build trust in the recycling process and to remind residents how they can recycle right – all in a bid to boost recycling rates. Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said: “We all know how the simple act of placing items in our recycling collections can become ‘out of sight, out of mind’. “That’s why, with the Journey of Recycling campaign, we are keen to give residents a behind-the-scenes insight which will equip them with more knowledge on how their recycling efforts can discourage unnecessary waste and make a real difference. “In addition to displaying the sorting and end processes of each recyclable material, our suite of videos provides a reminder of what materials can be recycled in each of the districts and how to avoid recycling contamination. “These are all important factors in ensuring that we recycle right.” Cllr Catie Page, Chair of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said: “As an Authority, we are always keen to help residents understand that reducing the amount of stuff we buy – as well as repairing and reusing what we can – are great habits to adopt to protect our environment for current and future generations. “However, we also know that recycling the materials we can in the correct manner also plays a key role in supporting this effort. “If anyone is ever unsure about what they can recycle at home, we encourage you to watch our Journey of Recycling videos. “Residents can also visit recycleright.org.uk, which is a really helpful resource that is full of information on what can be recycled at home and at our Household Waste Recycling Centres.” To view the full suite of Journey Recycling videos, please visit https://recycleright.org.uk/do-it-right/journey-of-recycling/. Residents across Liverpool City Region can also view the videos via the official Recycle Right Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Sixteen community groups have been awarded a share of £165,000 to help the residents of Liverpool City Region reduce, reuse and recycle more.

The money has come from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2024/25, which supports local waste prevention, reuse and recycling initiatives. The Fund is arranged by Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia.

Earlier this year the organisations had to bid for the funding which will give them the financial support to deliver waste-reducing behavioural change projects across the region.

Programmes include schools waste workshops, a repair cafe, cookery lessons to reduce food waste, clothes and textiles upcycling, a children’s toy lending library, restoration of unwanted furniture, food growing and community composting, amongst other things.

Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA), Lesley Worswick, said: “The Community Fund helps groups to become environmental stewards, creating a healthier place for everyone. Thankfully, our society is increasingly recognising the value in resources – they’re not just disposable items.

“The impressive ideas this year from local organisations are truly inspiring, and with 56 applications, the selection process was tough. Many past projects funded by the Community Fund have lasting benefits. They not only leave a positive legacy, but also continue to influence participants’ habits through ongoing activities.

“I wish all projects the best and look forward to seeing the impact they have.”

Project applications had to tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely Food, Furniture, Electricals, Plastics and Textiles. An analysis* of waste in the Liverpool City Region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be reused or recycled.

One project to previously clinch funding is the British Dietetic Association (BDA) who have been running food waste reduction and cookery skills programmes thanks to the Community Fund.

Suzanne Mitchell of the BDA said: “The opportunity to support a local community was a really powerful idea. We hope we’ve inspired households to think about new ways to save money by reducing the amount of food they throw away and growing their own produce.”

The successful organisations have got until March 2025 to deliver their projects.

ENDS

The successful projects:

Organisation and Project	Material focus	Project Summary
British Dietetic Association   Waste Warriors	Food	This project will train up 17 ‘Leaders’ to support 12 Cooking Clubs. The programme will engage with 2,000 people face to face and will produce e-learning resources to prevent food wastage and food packaging, across home, school and public events. There will be resources, equipment and grants for clubs to deliver sessions focussing on cookery, growing and composting.
Centre63   Centre63 Community Food & Recycle Hub	Food, Textiles and Furniture	Centre 63 will provide pantry use and food waste prevention training, as well as composting and growing food. They will also set up a sustainable shopping by Zero Waste lifestyle store, offering loose dry goods, organic options and plastic-free groceries on a not-for-profit basis. Monthly cooking sessions will be provided on how to eat healthily on a budget. Clothing swaps and upcycling/furniture restoration will also make up the project.
Dovecot and Princess Drive Community Association   The Drive Repair Cafe	WEEE (electrical waste) & Textiles	A local repair café will host experts including seamstress, electrician, clock repairer, cobbler and a joiner who will fix items free of charge.
Friends of South Park   Compost Creators!	Food	This food growing and composting project will see household kitchen/food waste taken to a local park for composting. Food skills and cooking sessions will be delivered to local residents, who will also take part in food gleaning and seed saving.
Gateway Collective   Gateway Craft Cafe	Textiles	15 textiles repair and upcycling workshops supported by the ‘sew by lovely sisters’, held every two weeks termtime. Online access also available for further participants. Links to school and school inclusive hub for holiday children’s groups.
The Let’s Cook Project   Let’s Cook More to Waste Less!	Food	Let’s Cook will deliver cooking and food waste demonstrations in partnership with FareShare Community Food Members. A one day conference will launch the project with 100 attendees representing 50 engaged CFM clubs.
Liverpool Lighthouse   Sew & Co	Textiles	The Anfield-based charity provides a sewing group that teaches sewing skills, including a focus on re-fashioning old worn and damaged clothes into new items and mending items, providing an alternative to ‘fast fashion’.
Liverpool World Centre   The Great Schools Climate Assembly	Education	This project will amplify young people’s voices on issues around waste, energy consumption and living sustainably, and bring them together with key local, regional and national stakeholders through the use of the Citizens Assembly model. Young people (aged 11- 18) taking part in the project will become ambassadors for change within their school.
Mencap Liverpool and Sefton   Mencap Cottage – The Big Garden Revamp	Food, Furniture, Textiles	Working with people who have learning difficulties and people with mental health needs, Mencap Liverpool & Sefton will deliver Swap Shops, cookery and food waste reduction classes, as well as a Grow your own swap shops and a community garden upgrade using recycled and repurposed materials.
North Birkenhead Development Trust   Refresh	Furniture	‘Refresh’ is a project that aims to establish a weekly drop-in upcycling session at the St James Centre on Laird Street. It will be a dedicated space for community members to learn new skills by upcycling furniture, either by bringing their own items, or utilising donated furniture.
The Reader   Recalled to Life	Furniture	The charity based in Calderstones Park will receive unwanted and donated furniture for restoration, whilst training and giving volunteers key upcycling skills and knowledge.
Rule of Threes Arts Ltd   Rule of Threes	Food & WEEE (electrical waste)	This food waste-based project will offer a kitchen equipment lending library, preserving jars, fruit press, cake tins and other food-saving items. It will also glean food from their community garden and offer practical skills in preparing, preserving, pickling, fermenting etc.
Sustainable Starts CIC   Sustainable Starts Toy Library	Textiles & Toys	Sustainable Starts CIC works with families to support and inspire them toward a more sustainable family life. We do this through Liverpool Cloth Nappy Library, children’s clothes swaps and a playgroup where families can explore sustainability with their children. The funding will be used to expand the lending Library with toys and baby items.
Vibe Charitable Incorporated Organisation   Feed the Need	Food	Vibe will distribute shopping lists, meal planning sheets and reusable containers as physical ways to support people to make improvements by careful planning to reduce overspending/shopping and utilising leftovers. The project will also produce an educational video of food saving and food challenges.
Wirral Change   Second Stitch and Zero Waste Plate	Food & Textiles	Second Stitch is about fixing, reusing, and transforming old clothes to fight against wasting fabrics. Wirral Change will also teach people from local ethnic minority communities how to make their clothes last longer and even turn them into something new through fun workshops.
Wirral Environmental Network   Wirral Clothes Swap Cafes	Textiles	Wirral Environmental Network (WEN), Indigo Venue and Wirral community groups and organisations will reduce waste and promote sustainability through community-driven Clothes Swap Cafés at various locations across the Wirral. The Clothes Swap Cafes will be interspersed with workshops and activities focused on sustainable fashion and reuse.

*Statistic from Merseyside and Halton Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22

A share of £165,000 is up for grabs to help community groups make the Liverpool City Region a cleaner and greener place.

The funding – made available via the Zero Waste Community Fund 2024/25 – is for community and voluntary groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations, who can reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource reuse and prevent carbon emissions.

There is up to £30,000 for projects which cover a minimum of four City Region districts, and between £1000 and £8,000 available for projects which work solely at one local authority level.

Chairperson of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), Councillor Catie Page, said: “We are so grateful for the partnerships we have with the region’s community groups. They are the backbone of our communities, the ones who are working on the ground to make a difference.

“Giving groups the opportunity to get involved in looking after their environment brings benefits to all and can help us appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which otherwise might be just thrown away.”

Bids must tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment), Food, Textiles, Plastics and Furniture. An analysis* of waste in the region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be re-used or recycled. Projects can also include other household waste materials, for example paper or metals.

Previous Community Fund projects have included local recycling guidebooks, cookery clubs to support healthy eating and reduce food waste, fruit and veg gleaning, restoring old furniture to sell for charity and refurbishing unwanted rugs for resale.

One organisation to have previously received funding is Toxteth-based Liverpool World Centre, who have been running clothes and textiles waste education programmes throughout the region.

Jacquie Ayre, Global Learning Education Officer at Liverpool World Centre, said: “Our projects in the past and the current one ‘Re-think The Waste Revolution’ work closely with teachers and youth group leaders – supported by our partner Faiths4change – to give them the confidence, knowledge, understanding and skills needed to initiate conversations within  their settings.

“Currently we are supporting the creation of groups of young people to become peer led waste educators to deliver the rethinking waste message and engage with others to think critically about consumption. We anticipate these messages becoming more embedded in community and school settings and consequently behaviour around textile, food and electrical waste will start to change and waste will be reduced.”

A celebration event for the Community Fund was held on Tuesday 6^th February, which brought together previous and current projects.

Interested groups can apply via www.merseysidewda.gov.uk.  

The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Sunday 10th March 2024.

Successful projects should receive the funding by mid April 2024 and will have to deliver their schemes by March 2025.

Organisations interested in this year’s Community Fund can:

• Apply online at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk  

• Contact the Authority:

Community.fund@merseysidewda.gov.uk

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

Sunday 10^th March 2024, 11.59pm