Why have we set up?

The NCWRP was founded in 2003 to encourage and assist the setting up and continued development of community - focused wood

recycling projects based on the award-winning Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project (B&HWRP).

The aim of these wood recycling social enterprises is to:

Save resources by rescuing and re-using "waste" timber that would otherwise be land filled and…

Create sustainable jobs and training and volunteering opportunities for local people - especially those who might find it more difficult to enter/re-enter the labour market.

What do we want to achieve?

The NCWRP aims to see at least twenty wood recycling projects set up - and flourish - during our period of funding (2005 - 2007).

With so much perfectly good timber ending up in landfill, and so many enthusiastic people available (and keen to work for such a worthwhile cause) there is little doubt that the UK could support many more than twenty!

The direct benefits of setting up such projects will be:

• thousands of tonnes of timber kept out of landfill - saving landfill space; reducing energy use and the pollution caused by transporting waste over longer distances.
  
  
• less new wood imported - helping to protect some forests; reducing energy use and the pollution caused by transporting timber over great distances.
  
  
• lots of good-quality, low-cost timber available - saving the community money on DIY; keeping retail profits in the community; raising the profile of recycled material.
  
  
• creating employment - lower-skilled but worthwhile jobs for (often) marginalized people; getting people off benefits; adding to the local economy.
  
  
• volunteering / training opportunities - building confidence and self-esteem through challenging but rewarding volunteering opportunities; training schemes to build key skills; a great way back into work.

How are we funded?

The NCWRP is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - a private grant-giving Trust that supports Social and Environmental community projects throughout the UK.

We have been awarded £89,910 over three financial years; £17, 360 in 2004/5; £36,570 for 2005/6 and £35,980 for 2006/7. The money is to meet around 70% of the total overheads in running the office and paying the wages and expenses of the Project Director and an administrator / researcher. The remaining 30% must be generated by charging for certain of our services.

Funding from our launch in February 2003 until November 2004 was provided by the SEED Fund administered by the RSNC.

How do we work?

The Founder and Project Director of the NCWRP also set up and ran the B&HWRP, so we relish taking a practical - often, very hands-on - approach to the support we give.

After surviving the challenging but rewarding process of launching and developing an award-winning wood recycling project, we are uniquely placed to assist.

So don't reinvent the wheel! From the very first spark of interest - right through to a successful launch… and beyond… we can help.

And because we are funded, most of our work is at least heavily subsidized - or even free!

So please do not hesitate to contact us - we want to help!