TWO Wirral community groups have received a share of £165,000 funding to help reduce waste.

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.

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

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.

In Wirral, Wirral Change Second Stitch and Zero Waste Plate, whose material focus was food and textiles, was one of the 16 groups to receive a share of the funding.

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.  

The second Wirral organisation to receive funding was Wirral Environmental Network  Wirral Clothes Swap Cafes, whose material focus was 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.  

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