Good evening,

Welcome to the London Community Resource Network's enews bulletin, your weekly source of resource and sustainability news.

In LCRN news: Not long now until LCRN's Christmas party, please RSVP if you would like to attend (and we would like you to).

In members news: ReStore, Veolia, and Haringey Council have joined forces to launch a new furniture reuse scheme, Computer Aid International have launched their Christmas appeal, snow shovels are available for community groups in Camden, Lewisham council has entered a new waste contract to encourage recycling, and SEED Foundation would love some volunteers for their Camden food-waste recycling programme.

In London News: The Government has approved a new 'eco-park' in Shepperton, Camden council are to fine bus companies over emissions, while to Olympic Park is to be provided with recycled wastewater.

In National News: Strict limits are to be placed on Eric Pickles' silly weekly bin collection fund, Thames Water fear a drought, so have launched a water-saving scheme, while local authorities across the UK have expressed an interest in running a WEEE recycling TV advert campaign.

All this and more in the Environment and Third Sector news. 

And finally... Next-level fly-tipping foiled...
 

• LCRN NEWS
• MEMBERS NEWS
• MEMBERS EVENTS
• MEMBERS JOBS
• LONDON RESOURCE NEWS
• NATIONAL RESOURCE NEWS
• ENVIRONMENT SECTOR NEWS
• THIRD SECTOR NEWS
• CONSULTATIONS, FUNDING & TENDERS
• AND FINALLY…

LCRN NEWS

* LCRN Christmas Networking Party - Thursday 15th December At Hackney City Farm

‘Tis the season to be jolly! LCRN will be celebrating the end of the year in true winter warming style at Hackney City Farm. Please join us for mulled wine and cider, mince pies, cheesy Christmas music, and festive candles and light. All are welcome to attend, LCRN members and friends – an evening with sparkling company awaits. Do remember that this event is free - it is the season of goodwill after all. It will take place at Hackney City Farm on Thursday 15th December from 6pm - 8pm. Please RSVP with Jennifer@lcrn.org.uk.
  
* Become an LCRN Member today
 
Join the network that’s innovating away London’s waste, the grassroots way. LCRN is proud to present our new membership scheme, open to organisations, charities, community groups and social enterprises in London dedicated to responsible resource management. Our new tiered system is based on both income and services so that you get the most bang for your buck. We strive to bring your organisation the right balance of business, organisational and communications support. Our free membership is still available, but come have a gander at what we’ve got on offer. Our rates are incredibly reasonable and our services can only be a boost for you in this economic climate. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Julian between on 020 7324 4708 or email julian@lcrn.org.uk.
…for LCRN’s new membership scheme
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MEMBERS NEWS

* ReStore And Veolia Join Forces

ReStore Community projects, Veolia, and Haringey Council have teamed up to offer a new furniture reuse service. ReStore Community Projects already offers affordable recycled furniture to local residents, with special rates for low-income families. However, now Veolia will make up to 30 free collections of quality reusable items a week for the scheme through the Veolia Haringey Contact Centre. Veolia regional manager Fabrice Bouchon said it was important for the company to engage with community organisations. He added: “Not only do we help them in terms of diverting and delivering items to them, but we also offer our staff the opportunity to spend a paid half a day volunteering with ReStore, as part of our company’s commitment to its staff to allow them all the opportunity to give something back to their community in this way.” ReStore general manager Nadeem Razvi, added: “Our partnership with Veolia will enable us to expand our role in the local community enabling us to support more residents through volunteering opportunities and a greater number of items available to buy.”

* Computer Aid - Christmas Appeal To Bring ICT To Rural And Marginalised Communities

Computer Aid International has launched a Christmas appeal to help address the massive gulf that exists between the industrialised and developing countries in terms of access to ICT. Less than 5% of the population of Africa has access to the internet, which is far below the worldwide average of 23%. There is also the problem of communications infrastructure, with 67% of people living in rural areas in Africa and Latin America without access to electricity, and if they do have it, it is more often than not 'down'. Widespread poverty across the developing world has complex and multiple reasons - lack of ICT being one. Poor access to education and knowledge is another. As a tool, ICT can make a real difference to people's livelihoods. It may seem like a low priority when people in the developing world struggle with access to clean water and healthcare. However, having ICT can make significantly improve sustainable poverty reduction intiatives, and plays a vital role in education, healthcare, governance, economic growth and rural development. You  can help Computer Aid by donating a PC - which could become a vital educational tool in a school in a developing country. For corporate donations click here, and for individual donations click here. You can also make financial donations to help support Computer Aid in bridging the digital divide. More information on financial donations can be found here. For more information, please contact rachel@computeraid.org.

* Snow Shovels Available For Community Groups In Camden

* SEED Foundation - Volunteers Needed!

As a result of council funding coming to an end, the food-waste recycling programme is due to finish on Maiden Lane Estate in Camden Town (near King's Cross) at the end of November. SEED Foundation, which has been working with residents to improve the service, has created a plan to help the estate's own social enterprise take over the system. However, much-needed start-up funding has not yet been secured, and volunteers are needed to bridge the funding gap between now and the end of March, in order to get the new system up and running. If you are interested, and would be able to dedicate three hours per month of your time helping out with collections, composting, machine management or marketing, please contact Clare Brass at clare.brass@seedfoundation.org.uk or call 07773 768 184. A really rich soil improver will be offered as a thank you for your time.
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MEMBERS EVENTS

 Visit our friends at Project Dirt for more events across London.

* Stepney City Farm - British Bengali Food Journeys

* Low Carbon And Zero Waste Christmas Celebrations

The Brixton Low Carbon Zone invites you to a free fun Christmas event. Here, you will be able to learn more about energy-saving activities taking place in your local area and how it will benefit you. The afternoon will include drop-in workshops on how to make Christmas decorations at no cost, a Doctor Bike surgery, and festive food and drink. There will also be a pedal-powered screening of Be Zero - Join Brixton. This is a short video started by Brixton residents on Loughborough Estate, and is about empowering people by encouraging their own community to recycle more.
Date: Saturday 10th December, 12.30pm - 5pm
Location: Windrush Square, Brixton SW2
Cost: Free
For more information.

* Dalston Winter Fair

Dalston Winter Fair is taking place on Sunday 18th December at Gillett Square and Dalston Culture House, and will be a source of free, festive fun for the entire community - including swing dancing, singing, and creative workshops. The Winter Fair is an alternative to the traditional commercial push at Christmas, and will be hosting 'swap shops', where you can find that special gift amonst other people's unloved treasures, swapping it for something you are happy to pass on. In the Gillett Square tent, Swing Patrol will be providing free swing dance workshops and performances, and there will be seasonal songs from around the world with performances from Emashi African Dance, local school choirs and many more. There will also be craft workshops, as well as table tennis, table football and other games with Universal Board Games. 
Date: Sunday 18th December, 12pm - 6pm
Location: Gillett Square and Dalston Culture House, N16 8AZ (opposite Dalston Kingsland station)
Cost: Free
More information is available from Hackney Co-Operative Developments.

* Arcola Theatre - Green Sunday 

Come along for a wonderful afternoon on Sunday 11th December at Arcola Theatre. The afternoon will begin at 1pm with a 'Give or Take' event (where you can bring and swap unwanted items) organised by Forest Recycling Project. Transition Town Hackney and Upcycle will then be leading presentations on upcycling old materials into new and attractive items. There will be a presentation on the UN COP 17 climate negotiations in Durban, with space for questions and discussion. At 4pm, there will be the screening of the documentary Just Do It: A Tale Of Modern-Day Outlaws, followed by a panel discussion featuring director of Just Do It Emily James, Islington Green Party candidate Caroline Allen, and student activist Samir Karnik Hinks. The discussion will be chaired by Duncan Clark, consultant editor of the Guardian's environment desk. Live music will be provided by members of Green Kite Midnight ('the climate camp house band'), and there will be mulled wine and mince pies inside the cafe-bar.
For more information.
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MEMBERS JOBS

* EcoLocal  - Food Growing Training Enterprise And Engagement Worker
EcoLocal is recruiting a part-time worker to develop their adult food growing training with a view to this becoming a financially self sustaining social enterprise, as well as manage and increase participation in their community allotment. You will be a good communicator able to effectively promote training sessions as well as demonstrate that you have the necessary knowledge to teach people food growing skills. Remuneration is £13.04 per hour for 21hrs per week for contract 01/01/12 to 30/09/12. CVs are not accepted. The main funder for this role is the Big Lottery Fund. The closing date for applications is 12th December midday. Please download a job information pack and application form from EcoLocal’s website.

* Co-operatives London - Communications Worker

Co-operatives London supports the growth of new and established co-operatives throughout London, and seeks to recruit a part-time Communications Worker with the initial contract running to March 2012. The successful applicant's chief responsibilities will be: establishing and maintaining a free or low-cost contact management system and contract management system; capturing and managing data relating to individuals and organisations of interest to Co-operatives London; being a first point of contact; promoting Co-operative London events; assisting with the marketing, development and management of said events; promoting Co-operatives London via social media; and contributing to Co-operative London meetings and Board meetings. The successful candidate should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills; be fluent in social media; fluent in all relevant software relating to database, contact and contract management; be self-motivated and efficient; have experience of developing and promoting events; plus have knowledge of and commitment to the co-operative sector in London. The role is part time (21 hours per month) and runs until March 2012. Remuneration will be £25 per hour. To apply please send a letter outlining your relevant skills and experience in relation to the role. CVs will not be accepted nor read. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 14th December 2011. For more information or to submit an application, please e-mail Gregory Cohn (Co-operatives London Chair) at gregory@co-operation.coop.

* TRAID - Freelance Sitefinders

Do you enjoy getting out and about, talking to people and helping the environment? Textiles recycling charity TRAID is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join their team of dedicated recycling bank finders across Greater London. It's a crucial role, helping develop TRAID's network of reuse banks and allowing them to support even more inspirational international development projects and groundbreaking environmental education. With a payment of £100 for every bank successfully installed, it is also a great way of earning a bit of extra cash. There will be regional training days held in mid-January, and the deadline for applications is the 31st December 2011. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a CV and covering letter to Mike Webster at mike@traid.org.uk. 

* Community Land Advisor - Bristol

This post is part of the Community Land Advisory Service (currently being developed by FCFCG) which is intended to help bring more land into productive community use for activities such as gardening and food growing. The Advisory Service offers detailed, one-to-one advice and support to community groups or landowners looking for help accessing/releasing land for community growing, as well as providing online information resources and guidance to specialist services. The postholder will facilitate access to land for community use in England, primarily through: the provision of specialist advice and support to community groups and landowners, focusing on finding and negotiating for sites, leases and licences, site suitability and land management; liaison with local authorities, other public and private landowners and community groups and networks; contributing to the development of a web-based brokerage facility. Ideal candidates will have a solid understanding of land transfer (leases, negotiation and legal issues) and of the community growing sector. This is a fixed-term contract until 31st December 2013, with extension subject to funding. The post is 22.5 hours (3 days) per week and the salary is £24,646 pro rata. The closing date for applications is 5th January 2012. To obtain a job pack, either visit the Community Land Advisory Service website or e-mail admin@farmgarden.org.uk.
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LONDON RESOURCE NEWS

* New 'Eco-Park' Approved

Controversial plans to build an energy-from-waste plant in Shepperton have been given approval from the Government. Eric Pickles, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, has said there is no need to further review the decision to grant planning permission for the development at Charlton Lane in Shepperton. Planning permission was granted to Sita in July for the “Eco Park”, which will process 40,000 tonnes of food waste and 60,000 tonnes of household waste a year. However, local campaigners had appealed for the secretary of state to refuse the “wholly inappropriate proposal”. In October, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints from residents about Sita’s publicity material. ASA ruled that the technology promoted by Sita was not the same as that which would be used at the new facility. Spelthorne Against the Eco Park (SATEP) said the publicity material was “disingenuous at a basic level” and called for the consultation to be declared “null and void”. Ian Lake, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for transport and environment, welcomed the decision to give the plans the go-ahead. He said: “The Eco Park will help reduce our £600,000-a-month landfill tax bill by disposing of waste in a more cost effective way, while generating green electricity from rubbish that can’t be recycled and which previously would have been buried in the ground.”
From MRW.

* Camden To Fine Bus Companies Over Emissions
Camden Council has begun fining bus and coach operators that allow their vehicles to idle for too long. It is a move to stop the amount of emissions released by engines turning over at bus stands and coach parking bays. From now on, bus operators that allow idling of more than four minutes in the borough can be fined £80. Camden Council said that some areas in the borough were in breach of European and national air quality standards. A spokeswoman said that engine idling increased levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, two major air pollutants. She added that "the lives of many who use or live alongside the capital's busiest roads are being shortened". The fines were introduced on 29 November 2011.

NATIONAL RESOURCE NEWS

* Strict Limits On Pickles' Weekly Bin Collection Fund (That Is Definitely Not A Waste Of Money)
Councils will only be able to bid for a share of the community secretary’s £250m pot for bin collections if they commit to weekly residual waste collections, officials have indicated. In a move that apparently rules out bids for cash to fund weekly food waste collections, David Prout, director general of localism at the Department for Communities & Local Government, told MPs the fund would be reserved for councils whose bids met three key criteria.One of these would be retaining or reinstating weekly residual waste collections, he said. “It’s about three things: it’s about reinstating or retaining a weekly black bag collection - in other words, so you as a household get your rubbish collected every week - and it’s about improving environmental performance, and it’s about improving value for money,” he told the communities and local government select committee. The insistence on weekly residual waste collection comes despite evidence that fortnightly residual waste collections boost recycling rates. Currently around 56% of councils in England operate fortnightly residual waste collections.In November, a snapshot survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) found limited support from councils to bid to the £250m to support the reinstatement of weekly residual waste collections - in fact, the sound of nobody being bothered was deafening.  But the survey found around half of respondents would bid to support weekly food waste collections, if the fund allowed it.

* Thames Water Launches Water-Saving Campaign

ENVIRONMENT SECTOR NEWS

* Gas Trumps Wind

The construction of new renewable energy generation capacity has fallen dramatically, as the big six energy suppliers pursue a 'dash for gas' policy that could jeopardise the UK's climate change targets and lead to higher energy bills. The number of new wind turbines built this year is down by half on last year. To date, 540MW worth of new turbines, on land and offshore, have been built this year – 200 onshore and 50 offshore turbines. Across the UK last year, 1,192MW of wind capacity was added. The pipeline of new projects has also stagnated – this year, 2,058MW of windfarms were submitted for planning permission, compared with 2,080MW in 2010, and the number approved dropped markedly, from 1,366MW in 2010 to 920MW, according to figures from industry body RenewableUK. This contrasts with the 30GW of new gas-fired power stations that are at planning stage. These will require tens of billions of pounds of investment, coming mostly from the big six energy suppliers. In 2010, the total investment in renewable energy in the UK fell dramatically, from $11bn (£7bn) to less than $3bn – a drop of about 70%. This year, the investment has recovered somewhat, after about $6bn was invested in offshore wind, but this is still well down on 2009 figures – despite the government's pledges to expand the renewable energy sector, with a target of 18GW of generating capacity to come from offshore wind by 2020. At least £200bn will be needed this decade to transform the UK's energy sector to a low-carbon footing, but there is little sign yet of investment on that scale.
From the Guardian.

* Huhne Plans More Wind Farms And Nuclear Plants
Chris Huhne, the energy secretary wants to convert all Britain’s vehicles and homes to run on electricity by 2050, according to the Sunday Times. This will require a sharp increase in electricity generation by as much as double, with almost all coming from low-carbon sources such as wind and nuclear power. There are currently 3,000 onshore turbines and several hundred offshore. They have helped cut carbon emissions but generate just 1-2pc of the nation's power. The programme risks transforming Britain's countryside, with an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 turbines needed onshore and up to 25,000 required offshore, with many visible from land. Until there are dramatic increases in solar and wave power technology wind turbines and nuclear are regarded the most viable green energy sources. Currently there are 43 new wind parks under construction housing 1,251 turbines. Councils have granted approval to a further 2,115 at 245 wind warms. Huhne’s carbon plan proposes that in 20 years renewable energy, mainly wind, should have been expanded tenfold from 5 gigawatts to 50GW, providing 40 per cent of power by 2030. One nuclear plant a year should be built from 2019, the plan says. By 2050 renewable power generation may have to rise to 80GW, roughly equal to Britain’s entire current generating capacity. Huhne also wants all Britain's 30 million petrol and diesel cars powered by batteries by 2050, under the plan to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. He wants road transport emissions cut from 130 m tons of CO2 a year to just 20. Anyway, good luck with that.

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THIRD SECTOR NEWS

* Bogus Bags
The Fundraising Standards Board is launching a campaign in England and Wales to educate people about bogus charity clothing collectors. The Bogus Bags campaign, which begins today, will echo a 2009 scheme that encouraged people to look out for fake charity clothing collection sacks. It also follows the more recent Give with Care campaign that ran in Scotland in September. The Bogus Bags campaign, which is being supported by the Institute of Fundraising, the Charity Retail Association and the Textile Recycling Association, will initially be launched in Chatham and Aylesford in Kent by local MP Tracey Crouch, who has been vocal on the subject. Sixty-thousand leaflets will be delivered to households in Kent by the end of the year. These leaflets will advise residents to check that charity collection bags are legitimate by, for example, checking for registered charity numbers. The campaign will then be rolled out across "key crime hotspots" throughout England and Wales, a statement from the FRSB said, with leaflets being distributed by legitimate commercial collectors to 500,000 households.

CONSULTATIONS, FUNDING & TENDERS

* Big Lottery Fund - £10m To Kick Start Sustainable Living Across England

Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is investing £10m in good causes funding to jump start more sustainable living across the country and communities in London are invited to apply for a slice of the funding. Spiralling food costs and fuel poverty are just some of the issues being addressed through BIG's Communities Living Sustainably programme which aims to inspire people to adapt the way they live, work and engage with each other to reap financial, environmental, and health gains. BIG will invest in up to 10 communities by providing: access to expert support and advice to help communities develop skills, knowledge and abilities and build on best practice; up to £10,000 to develop a project delivery plan that details the environmental, economic, and social challenges affecting the community and how they can be addressed; and grants of between £500,000 and £1m for up to five years - this funding will provide an opportunity for communities to work together to access further resources and support to ensure their communities are sustainable and resilient after BIG funding ends. The closing date for an expression of interest is Tuesday 31st January 2012. For more information please contact the Big Advice Line on 0845 4 10 20 30, or alternatively, visit BIG's website.
  
* Capital Growth Funding

The programme is administered by Capital Growth at London Food Link. It is intended to enable Londoners to benefit from a higher availability of affordable local food by maximising the use of land for food growing activities across the London area. Funding is available to help community groups develop new food growing schemes that will be sustainable and of benefit to communities in London. In particular, the scheme is eager to fund training and skills support to develop new sustainable projects. Projects should be focused on bringing more food to market in London, and be involved with a new food-growing space (not established before 1st January 2009) or an extension of a current food-growing project. It should be for wider community benefit, not solely for private or commercial gain. The next grant funding round has now opened and will close on 16th January 2012. The maximum grant available is £1,500.
For more information. 
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AND FINALLY…

* The Super Fly Tipper

A rogue fly-tipper has created a desolate wasteland made up of 28 lorry-loads of rubbish (weighing 100 tons) across country lanes. Waste collector Wayne Richards, 36, was paid to deposit domestic waste safely at licensed sites, but chose instead to dump the lot in Hallen and Avonmouth, Somerset, to maximise his profits. Richards was gaoled for 15 months at Bristol Crown Court. 
From the Daily Telegraph.
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