Groundwork London, in partnership with Harrow Council, is running a competition to promote the development of a new online Harrow Reuse Directory. Four prizes of £9,375 are available to further extend or kick-start a new project in repair, reuse or recycling. Businesses, not-for-profit groups or social enterprises that are currently contributing to the circular economy are welcome to apply. Deadline for submitting an application is 30th September 2021.
In 2018, the UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of total waste, with England responsible for 84% of the UK total. To help reduce the amount of waste ending up in UK landfills, local authorities across the country are now funding initiatives like the Harrow Reuse Directory, that will not only benefit the environment, but also small local businesses looking to promote their services within repair, reuse and recycling. This will extend further to the local public that access these services, looking to buy restored items like furniture or have something repaired. The circular economy is crucial not only for small businesses to survive the pressures of high street retailers, it also promotes value, so people can make conscious decisions about what is usually considered as “waste”.
Director of Communities and Environmental Services, Katrina Baker said: “Groundwork London is excited to be working alongside Harrow Council to provide a self-managing platform for green businesses wanting to increase their profile. Sustainability is the heart of our work, so we want to build the capacity of businesses already contributing to the circular economy and give them a dedicated space to promote their services. Our Community and Data Services Team have created a very useful directory and tool that will help customers find locally sourced green goods and services they want.”
Harrow Council’s forward-thinking initiative to establish an online reuse directory couldn’t have come at a more suited time. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, smaller enterprises are taking the hit, often ending up closing its doors. The Council has already developed platforms for local Harrow businesses, but are now determined to collate a database of sustainable and environmental-friendly enterprises as well.
Cllr Varsha Parmar, Environment & Climate Change Portfolio Holder, said: “Too much waste is going into the bins that could be re-used and we are delighted to support this innovative initiative to encourage re-use and recycling. We have rightly recognised the importance of charting a sustainable future by declaring a Climate Emergency and working together we can all do our bit to protect our threatened environment and reduce our waste. Good luck to all those that enter this important competition.”
In total, four projects will be awarded a single grant of £9,375 to further help develop their business idea or start a new green initiative. Applicants will also be invited to join forces with the directory, which will benefit their business, promoting their services to Harrow locals. Please visit https://www.groundwork.org.uk/harrow-reuse-directory/ to start your application. Application window close at 5pm, 30th September 2021.
Who can apply?
Any business / organisation that is based in Harrow, can apply under one of the three categories:
- Not-for-profit groups
- For profit business
- For profit micro-business (employing 9 people or fewer)
What kind of projects can the grant fund (to name a few)?
- Workshops that upskill Harrow residents in upcycling such as sewing or repairing upholstery
- Upcycling waste into something useable e.g. plastic bottles into bags
- Events that encourage reuse, recycle, repair or upcycle e.g. clothes swaps
- Business that collect broken items and repair them e.g. laptop donations
- Zero waste shops or ideas
What the project needs to do (to name a few):
- Reduce waste by repairing, reusing, recycling or upcycling
- Be available to use or be accessible for Harrow residents
- Encourage the use of the new directory
- Encourage Harrow residents to take part in the circular economy
The grant can cover expenses such as: materials/equipment, coordination costs, hiring space for workshops/classes, marketing costs – printing and distribution, training costs, volunteer expenses, hiring equipment and so on. This is not an exhaustive list and is merely meant to give you an idea of what the funding can cover.
For any question about the competition, please contact suzanne.gibbon@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork London
Groundwork London is a social and environmental regeneration charity. For almost 20 years we’ve been at the forefront of environmental and social regeneration in London; changing places and lives for the better. We deliver over 500 projects annually of varied type and size. In today’s challenging social and economic climate, the work we do has never been more important. Our three over-arching objectives are:
- Creating better places – supporting people to work collectively to make their surroundings greener, safer and healthier and be actively involved in the way decisions are made about services in their area.
- Promoting greener living and working – helping people and businesses learn more about their environmental impact and act responsibly to reduce natural resource use and improve their health.
- Improving people’s prospects – delivering support to increase the confidence, skills, well-being and employability of those furthest removed from the labour market, in particular young people.
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