Speaking yesterday (June 4) at the Community Recycling Network UK and London Community Recycling Network annual conference, held in London, the Secretary of State told representatives of community recycling groups: “You've sent an alarm call to us regarding what we do with things, where they come from.
Explaining the reasons for the launch of the WRAP-organised capacity building scheme, he admitted that “we need to better value the work that you do.”
He added: “I hope that you will find that it is giving you a boost. I hope you will feel that it is a practical expression of support from us for the work that you do.”
The programme, which will be worth £1.5 million in the first year, aims to support English community recycling groups that are looking to become more business minded, and its full launch comes just days after a similar investment fund was announced for Welsh recycling and reuse enterprises (see letsrecycle.com story).
It represents the first major partnership between the Waste & Resources Action Programme and a newly-launched community interest company, REconomy, which has been formed by equal partners the Furniture Reuse Network, Community Composting Network, Community Recycling Network UK and the London Community Recycling Network.
Ahead of the publication of its new business plan next week (see letsrecycle.com story), WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin told the conference that “the new third sector programme is an important part of WRAP's new business plan and I'm very keen that it has a central role”
“This is a huge challenge and we need to work together to find a way to make this work as quickly and effectively as possible”
“Behavioural change is going to be a consistent point running through the new WRAP business plan,” she added. “The third sector has the vision, passion and commitment to play a key role in this.”
Strands
Money will be made available to improve the capacity of groups in five key strands; organisational development, market development, networking and training, investment for growth and specific partnership projects.
While the majority of the first year's funds are allocated to organisational development, £400,000 has been earmarked on the projects strand, with £100,000 on market development and up to £70,000 on networking.
The investment for the growth strand will initially examine the feasibility of underwriting projects that hope to win public sector contracts, and London CRN chief executive Matthew Thomson revealed that “it's only a small part of the programme but next year, the year after that, they're talking about millions to follow that.”
A scheme's success will be judged on four key indicators which include counting the tonnes of waste diverted from landfill, the tonnes of carbon saved, turnover and employment and finally the number of training and volunteering opportunities that are created.
However, Mr Thomson indicated that there could be an opportunity to amend these indicators in the future: “We have a commitment to look at those indicators over time and review them, but because the business plan has been signed off by Defra we're hostage to those,” he said.
Last week WRAP launched a month-long tendering process for companies such as environmental consultancies that would like to be included on the list of contractors whose services will be made available, via the programme, to community recyclers.
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