Grassroots Triumph

A LIVERPOOL community garden has scooped a top award in the North West in Bloom competition – with the city landing a total of 40 honours.  Lister Residents Association won the Community Gateway Trophy for the best small neighbourhood garden in the RHS Neighbourhod Awards.

The awards were introduced specifically for small urban community groups, led by residents, who wish to improve neighbourhood areas and breathe new life into communities.  Of 80 awards presented in the small neighbourhood category, 40 were presented to Liverpool neighbourhoods. They gained five outstanding awards, 20 merit awards and 15 Improvement Awards. A full list of the award winners is attached.

The schemes are in Neighbourhood Renewal areas and have received funding to improve their communities.

Dave Murphy, Chair of the Lister Resident Association in Kensington, said;- “We are delighted that we have won this award. It is a real honour when you consider that there were gardens from Cumbria to Cheshire competing.  We have been working on the garden for about three years and while there are about 25 volunteers who are active every resident contributes – it is a real community effort.”

Cllr Marilyn Fielding, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:- “These awards are a wonderful achievement and just reward for the hard work of people who have put a lot of effort into improving their communities.  Some of the neighbourhoods have been developing their green spaces for a number of year. Others like those in Cecil Street have converted a derelict alleyway into a pleasant colourful area within a matter of months. It shows what can be achieved.  These awards demonstrate the pride people can have in their environment and how they are working with us to create a greener city.” 

Volunteers launch a new environmental social enterprise

A NEW social enterprise has been established which will enable more than 400 small businesses and community organisations in Liverpool to continue to recycle at work.  EWR Recycling Ltd has been formed by former Energywise Recycling managers, Andrea Rushton, Annie Barker and Caz Anderson and was launched this week thanks to help from a BusinessLiverpool grant and European funding.

The new directors needed to purchase vehicles, sorting and processing equipment and stock from the former business and turned to BusinessLiverpool for funding advice and walked away with a 1-off £15,000 grant needed to complete the new set up.  EWR will now concentrate exclusively on commercial contracts and opportunities, employing up to nine of its former employees.

They will collect waste materials from pubs and clubs as well as offices from around the Liverpool City Region. In addition they will collect and reprocess glass in the company’s glass manufacturing workshop to make homeware, awards and signage with a unique ‘Made in Liverpool’ stamp.  Cllr Flo Clucas, executive member for economic development and Europe, was presented with a commemorative glass bowl made from reclaimed flat glass in thanks for her support and advice and the council’s EU sourced funding.

Andrea Rushton, EWR director, said:- “Since Energywise Recycling closed at the end of August, eight staff and I have been working on a voluntary basis to begin a new environmental social enterprise and to create new full-time job opportunities.  With the support of Cllr Flo Clucas and Jerry Spencer of Business Liverpool we were successful in gaining a European business start-up grant. Without their phenomenal support and the support of the volunteer staff we wouldn’t be in the exciting position we’re in today with a great future beckoning."

Cllr Clucas said:- “We are endeavouring to promote women in business in the city and it is good to see this women-run business go forward.  There is a real opportunity for this new company to succeed and I would like to thank all those people who have given their free time and experience in ensuring that this happens.  With the right business plan, aims and focus for management, EWR can go from strength to strength and I believe it will.  It has been a difficult period for all those concerned but they are now starting a new path towards a brighter future. Liverpool City Council is backing it and has been happy to help enable their planned future become a reality.”