Hands Up All Volunteers…!
Leicestershire residents are being offered a unique opportunity to help teach their communities about reducing the amount of waste they produce. People are being offered the chance to gain valuable work experience, get to know their neighbours, boost their CVs and do their bit for the environment by becoming a Waste Action Volunteer.
Throughout March Leicestershire Waste Partnership, which is made up of the County and District Councils, is signing up volunteers to become experts in waste reduction.
Examples of activities volunteers could be involved in include:
- Writing blogs on waste prevention
- Giving talks to community, youth or school groups
- Organising competitions / workshops
- Setting up an information stall at a local library or community centre
The deadline to apply for the scheme, which includes training, is March 28. It asks that volunteers give 30 hours of their time over 12 months and is open to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in the county (excluding Leicester City).
The initiative follows the success of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership’s Master Composters initiative which was set up in 2008.
Now there are 68 Master Composters, of all ages, dotted around the county who between them have dedicated more than 2,000 hours spreading the home composting message.
Master Composter Ruth Senior (21), a student at Loughborough University, said: “Volunteering in this way gives you the chance to do some very fulfilling and positive work in the community.
“For me, it helped me get more involved with the people in my neighbourhood, gave me the chance to raise awareness of home composting and enhanced my CV by getting me involved in volunteering.”
Tony Kershaw, Chairman of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership and County Council Cabinet Member for Waste, said: “This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and take part in an exciting new scheme”
“It is also an example of people working together as part of the Big Society, by getting involved in local projects and sharing information on a subject they are passionate about.
“And as our Master Composters have often shared with us, volunteering in this way is also a great way of meeting new people and making new friends, so why not take the plunge and sign up now?”
Limited spaces are available and volunteers will be asked to attend two days of training, on Saturdays May 7 and 21, which will focus on home composting, Love Food Hate Waste (a national campaign to reduce food waste) and food waste digesters.
Further optional evening training sessions will also be available. If demand is high, consideration will be given to running a second training course this year.
Participants will also be able to claim travel expenses relating to volunteering, will have the option of completing additional e-learning modules in areas such as real nappies, reuse and packaging and will be able to access and borrow from a wide range of resources.
To volunteer call 0116 3057005 or email: wasteprevention@leics.gov.uk
You can also visit www.lesswaste.org.uk for more information or to download an application form.