Pop-up shop bags first SWP green grant

Schools across Somerset have less than three months to apply for the first ever Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) Eco-Schools grants.

A pop-up recycled clothes “shop” at Abbas and Templecombe Primary School is the first project green-lit by one of the grants and more are in the pipeline.

Fifty grants of £500 are being offered by SWP’s commitment to encouraging waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

They are for projects that help schools participate in the Eco-Schools Programme, whether getting involved for the first time or – like Abbas and Templecombe – progressing towards the coveted “Green Flag” status.

The closing date for applications is the end of May 2022. Full details and an application form can be found online somersetwaste.gov.uk/education 

Abbas and Templecombe will be using the money to develop its initiative that encourages clothing reuse within the school.

Parents donate surplus clothing which is sorted and prepared for collection at after-school sessions – reusing valuable materials and reducing demand for new products.

At the same time, the project is saving families money and helping the school teach children about the environmental impacts of fashion.

The grant will help repurpose a storeroom to keep clothes in good condition for the events, which will run at least four times a year. 

The school also recently ran a successful pop-up book share which saw hundreds of booked donated and given a new home. In the long-term it is planning to extend the initiative to include a pop-up food sharing scheme.

Headteacher, James Webb, said: “We want our children to be well-informed about the impact we have on our planet and understand that by making small changes, we can make a big difference.

“The grant has been a welcome helping hand in making our Eco-Council’s idea a reality”.

Eco-Schools is an initiative operating in 68 countries, giving schools a structured approach to engaging and empowering pupils and teachers in projects and initiatives that help protect the environment.

SWP’s Eco-Schools grants are open to primary and secondary schools and can be used for all kinds of projects and initiatives. The only proviso being that schools choose “waste” as one of its topics on the way through seven steps to green flag status.

Councillor Sarah Dyke, Chair of the Somerset Waste Board, said: “Reducing waste and increasing reuse and recycling will play an important role in helping Somerset tackle climate change.

“It’s great to see these grants starting to be awarded, and the exciting projects they are supporting.”

For more information about the Eco-Schools, visit eco-schools.org.uk