Read this newsletter on the West Sussex WPA website: www.westsussexwpa.org.uk January 2014 WPA NEWS Medway s Special One Day Event read inside for more Inside this month: ConGREEN Medway special event - places available Steering Group growing the scheme Staffing update Training update
INVITATION The ConGREEN Together cluster partnership As you know, West Sussex s Waste Prevention Team has funding to take part in a second EU project ConGREEN Together along with partners in Belgium, France and Holland. As part of the project, Medway Council is hosting a special one day event for volunteers like yourselves, and we d like to take this opportunity to invite you to come along. The main focus of this event is working to create greener, sustainable communities. This special event will be held in Medway on Friday 16 May 2014. Coach transport and lunch will be provided free of charge. The coach will pick up from various points in West Sussex to arrive for a 1pm start in Medway and leaving Medway at 6pm. You will also be able to opt in to a range of interesting workshops: Art-from-Waste workshop led by IOK Waste Management (Belgium) Community Gardening led by Centre habitat de littoral, Boulogne, France Healthy Eating led by Medway (UK) Home Composting led by Imog (Belgium) Energy Savers led by BND Kortrijk (Belgium) Training for Volunteers led by West Sussex County Council (UK) Our very own Dr. Ryan Woodard from the University of Brighton will be leading a presentation / workshop on West Sussex s Waste Prevention Advisor scheme. We really hope you ll be able to take this opportunity to attend what promises to be a interesting and rewarding day and we are keen to take as many of you as possible. Would you like to come along? Please let us know: Call 0330 22 277 21, or email Marie.Bracken@westsussex.gov.uk
Volunteers Steering the Volunteer Scheme The third WPA Steering Group meeting was held at the Horsham Fire Station Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DN on Monday 20 January 2014. With a full agenda of hot topics there was lively debate among the volunteer members who attended - Cheryl Berry (WPA), Jill Shuker (WPA), Penny Line (WPA), Laura King (WPA). and from the Waste Prevention Team Jules Whitney (chair), Marie Bracken and Ed Habbitts. Topics for discussion were: The current recruitment campaign The Induction Event for the new training Retraining for current WPAs WPA volunteer role descriptions WPA Handbook The ConGREEN Project event to be held in Kent on Friday 16 May If you would like to join the Steering Group, or if you would just like to come along when the Steering Group meets in your area, then please let us know by contacting one of the three people below. You can also let them know your ideas, views and suggestions for the scheme going forward. Marie Bracken (Waste Prevention Team) marie.bracken@westsussex.gov.uk Penny Line (WPA Steering Group) penny.line@btinternet.com Julie Silverson (WPA Steering Group) - the.wickers@yahoo.co.uk The next two meetings for the Steering Group are: Monday 17 February 6pm to 8pm at Worthing Fire Station,57 Ardsheal Road, Worthing, BN14 7RN Monday 17 March 6pm to 8pm at Crawley Fire Station, Ifield Avenue, Crawley, RH11 7AJ To help with all your future planning view the complete Steering Group Calendar 2014 on the WPA website. Notes of Steering Group decisions, debates and ideas can be seen on the WPA website too, visit: www.westsussexwpa.org.uk and click Steering Group in the left-hand menu.
Information Points and Talks Waste Prevention Advisors and Team members out and about in local communities Worthing Homes, East Worthing (Wednesday 22 January 1pm 4.30pm) On Wednesday 22 January the Waste Prevention Team trailer had its first trial outing to a venue we have visited before. We were welcomed by Worthing Homes manager Ali Edwards who was keen for us to attend a Lottery event, giving us the opportunity to showcase the Waste Prevention Trailer and speak to Big Lottery personnel and our partners who were visiting on the day. We Need You and your ideas! If you know of events or activities in your local area where Waste Prevention Advisors and/or the Waste Prevention Education Trailer could engage with the local community then let us know! Activities already booked are posted on the WPA website www.westsussexwpa.org.uk and sent to your email inboxes. Just email us or ring to say at which event or activity you can volunteer and what time you can spend with us. We look forward to having you on the team! Let us know which activities you are able to take part in. Look Out For. Updates and changes on the Recycle for West Sussex website: www.recycleforwestsussex.org.uk The Recycle for West Sussex website contains a wealth of useful information, video clips and handy tips. Our colleagues at Viridor update and review the website all the time. It s worth keeping an eye on this excellent website!
Training Update Your new E-Learning opportunity Great news, with E-learning comes the flexibility to refresh knowledge. Several of you have already expressed an interest in doing just that and if this is something you too are interested in, then let us know. We also value immensely your practical experience of being a Waste Prevention Advisor. You have insights which allow you to constructively assess this new method of training delivery. Refresher session Tailor-made specialist training using the e-learning programme to refresh knowledge is arranged. Catch up with Ryan and find out about the latest developments in waste management. date Thursday 27 February 2014 from 6pm to 8pm venue Worthing (precise details to follow) Don t forget we are really keen to hear from people who would like to help out with our specialist WasteBuster (http://www.wastebuster.co.uk/) schools education programme too. Induction session For aspiring WPAs there is an Induction Day arranged on Saturday 15 February 2014 at the Heene Community Centre, 122 Heene Road, Worthing BN11 4PL from 10.30am to 3.30pm Some of our existing WPAs are coming along to share knowledge with the new recruits and Dr Ryan Woodard will be explaining how our e-learning course works. Our new Waste Prevention Education Trailer will be there too for all attendees to have a good look round. Call 0330 22 277 21, or email Marie.Bracken@westsussex.gov.uk to register for refresher training
As you can see, the majority of the training will be delivered through e-learning and can be completed at your convenience. However, we would like to make you aware of the following dates. Training Update 15 February 2014 Induction Event to be held in Worthing for new recruits (see above). 5 March 2014 Material Recycling Facility (MRF) field trip and catch up session with Ryan Woodard Through visiting the MRF you will be able to see how recyclable materials are processed in West Sussex. The trip will include a presentation and a chance to see the plant in action. You will also be able to catch up with Ryan Woodard, the scheme staff and the other volunteers. The field trip will start at 14:00 at Ford MRF, Ford Road, Ford, West Sussex, BN18 0FL. If you are unable to attend this event a second trip to the MRF will take place on 29 th April. 2 April 2014 Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant field trip and communication training Waste that cannot be recycled in West Sussex will be sent to the MBT plant where it will be processed and treated. You will be given a tour and a presentation by the enthusiastic staff which will show you how the facility functions. You will also receive communication training during your visit to the MBT plant. This will allow you to hone and develop your communication skills which will assist you as a volunteer. The field trip is likely to take the whole day. We will provide you with further details at the induction event. If you are unable to attend this event a second trip to the MBT will take place 17 th April. 4 April 2014 Completion date for e-learning modules by new recruits The e-learning modules should be completed by this date. 8 11 April 2014 Exit interviews - for new volunteers Post Easter 2014 Health and Safety and Lone Working training provided by West Sussex County Council Face to face training to provide you with all the information that you will need to stay safe whilst you are volunteering.
Staffing Update The Waste Prevention Team goes from Strength to Strength Good news in the New Year brings staff role changes and staff new to the Waste Prevention Team. Team member Siobhan Scott has been promoted and changes focus to work with Waste Prevention Team members Katie Walton (Waste Strategy Officer) and Carol Ward (Data Management Officer). From 20 th January as a Trend Analyst Siobhan s main role will be to identify recycling trends and provide reports. This will contribute to the effective operation of the waste contracts. During February look out for adverts for someone to replace Siobhan in the Waste Prevention Team. New team member Kerry Murray joins us part-time as Waste Research Officer. This is a new role for the Waste Prevention team but Kerry is not new to WSCC. She joined six years ago working in the corporate Communications team having previously worked as a broadcast journalist in local radio. For the last four months she has been working with the Waste Prevention team. As part of the team she will work with District and Boroughs, Viridor, Biffa and our EU partners as required. With a young family and an interest in walking, cycling, horse riding and a spot of baking Kerry is certainly kept busy! Welcome to the team Kerry. Get in touch if you have something you would like to be included in the next issue- phone 03302 227540, email Maureen.walder@westsussex.gov.uk, or write to Waste Prevention Team, 2 nd Floor Northleigh, County Hall, Chichester. PO19 1RH (fao: Maureen Walder)