Freegle Reps Report 2013-03-31
This report covers the period 10 March to 10 April 2013
BIG BREAK
We’ve Won £2,000 from the Big Break 100 Good Causes Award
https://www.directdebit.co.uk/thebigbreak/100goodcauses/pages/causedetail.aspx?causeid=297
This is extremely good news for us as it means our server and hosting costs are secured for the next year.
STRATEGY
Big Lottery Sustain Eden project
Chris has recently given us an update. They have switched on the main Grow-Your-Own garden "sub-group" functionality and will be "launching" this at an event on 14 April. Chris is working on some evaluation monitoring in the coming month.
A chunk of the project work is being delegated to PACT in Penrith. To give itself better protection PACT has recently incorporated to set up a new legal body, Penrith Action for Community Transition Limited which is registered in England as an Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community, Registration No 31972R. Registered office: Applegarth, Nicholson Lane, Penrith CA11 7UL.
The "old PACT" unincorporated association will be formally wound up shortly.
Freegle's original agreement for Sustain Eden is with PACT. The new "PACT Ltd" board has agreed to take over PACT's obligations on the Sustain Eden Freegle project.
We have confirmed to Chris that we are happy with the revised arrangements.
Chris has asked that the PACT insurance policy covers the old and new PACT while both exist. PACT Ltd is likely to soon formally adopt Health and Safety etc policies.
BITC’s Marketplace Sustainability Summit
We have agreed that Cat should attend this in London on Tuesday 16th April.
MEDIA
South West Recycling Forum Cat gave a presentation on Freegle to them in Wiltshire on 14 March.
Mugs
We’ve been approached by someone who runs an internet business. He has offered us the opportunity of personalised Freegle mugs. He is offering us a percentage of the profits. We discussed the pros and cons of buying new items to promote reuse. We have raised the issues on Central.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreegleUK-Central/message/37043
and Sian is running a poll to gauge how volunteers feel about the issues.
Be The Start Campaign - May
Freegle will be featured by them on 6 May.
Channel 4, Something for Nothing - 28 May
Cat is one of the people featured in this TV programme which will be screened on 28 May
National Recycling Awards
The Brighton group has been shortlisted in the waste Minimisation category NRA. Last year Freegle UK were highly commendedf for the same award. 2013 results will be announced on July 3rd.
http://www.nationalrecyclingawards.com/633820
Living Labs Global Competition
The University of Brighton are paying for Cat's flight to attend a 3 day summit in San Francisco. She sublmitted a 'freegle-like' solution to a competition and the entry was shortlisted. As Freegle has no legal structure, nor the capacity to develop the idea for the competition Cat has partnered with 3 other organisations and devised a modified solution called 'CityMakers' (links will be available mid-May). This is great publicity for Freegle.
Street Club
B&Q link Freegle on their website. Steetclub is a community initiative funded by them a nd StartUK https://www.streetclub.co.uk/ @Streetclub
Virgin Money
Have given Freegle a very nice mention:
http://uk.virginmoney.com/magazine/article.jsp?category=money&article=32694 @VirginMoney
Observer Ethical Awards
We’ve submitted a nomination for this.
Business Cards
We have refunded Sian for the postage costs for sending out business cards. She is continuing to send out cards to newly approved groups.
Grand Design Living Show
We’ve agreed that Cat should take up an invitation to give a seminar talk on Freegle and reuse on May 9th at Excel.
http://www.granddesignslive.com/
FINANCE
End of Financial Year At the end of the financial year Jane has reported that:we have:
£8,363 in the bank, being:
£5,500 restricted for making Freegle sustainable
£138 restricted to media spend
£2,725 not restricted
Forecast spend for Financial Year 2014 is about £3,000
Full details can be found:
Local Funding Working Group
Liz, Lewes, has kindly agreed to take up running the Local Funding Working Group. This is aimed at giving help to local mods so that they can write funding applications.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Freegle-Local-Funding/
IT
Pie Chart
Edward has produced a pie chart for the home page of our website which nicely shows how much we are saving from landfill each week, broken down by category.
http://direct.ilovefreegle.org/weightchartfull.html
OTHER
Brand New Group Mentors
We agreed with the recommendation from structure to adopt the the procedure detailed in
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cKlJv8htph6OI8dmKIoIGtJ1Qwxn28uiSlUm-ilZB7Q/edit?usp=sharing,
subject to a six month review on Structure and on the understanding that GAT will ask Group Mentors to follow the remit of the Mentor Team.
Waste Prevention Programme
The Government is set to publish the first Waste Prevention Programme for England in December 2013. They are currently calling for views and information to help inform the programme. Freegle is one of the organisations that have been specifically asked to give evidence. We are discussing how best to respond to this.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-waste-prevention-programme-for-england
Food Sharing
An increasing number of people are using food share schemes in order to survive.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/ @fareshareUK
and
are two such schemes Local groups may want to think about whether they can find ways of working with schemes like these in their area
Freestock
Richard has taken over running Freestock from Tracy-Marie. This year’s meet up has been provisionally booked for 9 – 19 August. More details at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreegleUK-Central/message/37238
Back to: Freegle Reps Report 2013-02-28
