Over the last 18 months, with the help of R4GM (Recycle 4 Greater Manchester) Grant funding, we have not only gone greener but have helped our local community to make an impact too.
Our environmental journey began when we gained a grant from R4GM to reduce plastics and paper waste in our retail and café space. We utilized funding to introduce dry goods refillable stations and to give the community free containers to get them started. This project was really successful with lots of buy in from our local community.
Following on from this success we introduced a Green Coordinator to lead on helping the whole organisation to identify and introduce more sustainable ways of working and of dealing with waste. Lynsey, our Centre Host at the Angel Centre took on the role. Since then she has audited our waste management systems and has introduced recycling options. She has also replaced plastic items with sustainable alternatives where she can.
Additionally Lynsey has worked with our nurseries and together green educational programmes have been introduced for example, the recycling game for our preschoolers.
Regular litter picks are now also held around thew Angel Centre.
We were delighted to gain follow on funding from R4GM and have built on the interest that w generated from the local community. We have introduced indoor vertical growing systems where we grow herbs and salad all year round. We have provided containers and have encouraged local people to come in and pick their own salad as they need it. This is not only reducing packaging but is also reducing food waste as people are only taking what they need.
In addition to this we have also introduced a community fridge where people can share surplus food and; A community clothes rail so that clothing can be easily reused.
These projects have helped to educate local people about environmental impacts and have brought the community together in a joint cause.