*Please note, this commission closes 14th August 2026 at 5pm.*
Background
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) is committed to achieving the targets of zero waste and zero net carbon by 2040. This involves changing behaviours and attitudes and encouraging residents to take actions to help us achieve our goals.
The Project
For this project, MRWA is looking to appoint one or more organisations or individuals to develop and deliver a range of community-based food waste reduction workshops in each of the six districts of the Liverpool City Region.
These sessions aim to promote a transition to behaviour that keeps food out of the waste stream, instilling attendees with life skills, saving money and making food go further.
The partner(s) will be fully responsible for all aspects of the scheme, including:
- Procuring of suitable location
- Establishing staff/volunteers
- Developing a primary focus or area of work
- Procuring and maintaining all lendable stock
- Hosting sessions/events/workshops as appropriate
- Any necessary risk assessments and insurance
- Promotion of the scheme
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Continued legacy and development to maintain the space/scheme long-term
Project Aims
The aim of this project is to highlight the cost of avoidable food waste, and help make food waste reduction more accessible to residents across the Liverpool City Region.
Sustainable Development Goals
MRWA has prioritised five of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals with regards to its impact from operations and activities. The prioritised goals are:
3. Good health and well-being.
4. Quality Education.
11. Sustainable cities and communities.
12. Responsible consumption and production.
13. Climate Action.
This project will support all five goals. It will educate, inform, and raise awareness of the benefits of reducing food waste.
Such projects can contribute to people’s self-esteem, relieve their isolation, and instigate community cohesion. It will promote a shift in the waste hierarchy from throwaway culture to reuse, influence sustainable communities, and reduce emissions associated with new product development which contribute to climate change.
Participants will change behaviour and be more responsible about their consumerism and the waste they produce.
What will your organisation’s participation involve?
If you would like to be involved in this project, you will work closely with the MRWA’s Strategy & Development team to develop and deliver the Community Food Waste Reduction sessions.
While some food waste is inevitable – bones, egg shells etc – a large amount of what we currently dispose of could be used and not wasted. This year MRWA wishes to appoint one or more organisations or individuals to develop and deliver a range of community-based food waste reduction workshops in each of the six districts of the Liverpool City Region.
These sessions aim to promote a transition to behaviour that keeps food out of the waste stream, instilling attendees with life skills, saving money and making food go further. A focus should be given to waste reductions at a household level encouraging skill development and habit building to include education around food storage and preservation of surplus food stocks. Creativity and ingenuity with these projects is a must as we seek to find new and engaging ways to spread the message and alter associated behaviours.
Taking part
Taking part will involve the following:
Helping us link in with local community groups and spaces – As you will have good connections within the community, we would welcome your help in linking with residents, venues, and organisations to spread the key waste reduction messages and deliver a range of food waste reduction workshops.
Delivering food waste reduction skills workshop(s) – You will be expected to plan and deliver these workshops in up to six districts, depending on your application. These sessions can be tailored to your audience and venue as long as they promote the reduction of food waste specifically. Content should focus on storing and preservation skills, ensuring food waste prevention, promoting economic and environmental benefits. Sessions can also look to include meal planning and cooking skills.
You will be responsible for the complete management and delivery of the workshops including the sourcing of materials, venues, staffing and attendees. The workshops should also promote options for disposing of unavoidable food waste, e.g. composting, using food waste collections but this should not be the main focus of the workshop.
Helping us share the message of reuse, recycling and promoting a circular economy – You will create and develop any resources and toolkits needed that support the message of food waste reduction and are suitable for your target audience and complement your event. This could include;
- Promotional materials such as posters and leaflets
- Educational resources such as how to guides, tips and tricks etc.
- Photographs and social media content
- Attendee questionnaires or feedback forms
Collect data to evaluate effectiveness – To instigate behaviour change we need to understand attitudes and barriers. We’d like you to gather information from groups prior to workshop delivery and on completion of participation to determine the effectiveness and response to sessions like this.
Produce project evaluation – Following completion of the project(s) you should produce a report which should include the following:
- Summary of the project, including outcomes.
- Attendance figures and feedback from staff and attendees.
- Any data around the sessions content – products used, money saved etc.
- Social Value generated
- Successes and learning points from this project.
- Recommendations for how we can improve or develop this project.
Project outcomes
We’re looking for the following outcomes for this project:
- Delivery of a minimum of one food waste reduction project per provider to cover each of the six districts (multiple appointees may be required).
- Development of resources and activities that support the message of utilising learnt skills to reduce usable food waste.
- Impact reporting such as community response, number of food items utilised and attendance of each event.
- Evaluation/end of project report
How your organisation can benefit from taking part in the project
Help instigate behaviour change – We want to shift from a linear to a circular economy, and minimise waste across the LCR, to do this successfully we engage with residents and work in partnership with community groups and organisations.
Embed reuse and circular economy thinking within your organisation – Develop new/ additional skills and resources within your organisation.
Provide opportunities for people to access important life skills– Help support the local community to learn and grow through sustainable knowledge and practice.
Develop new partnerships and networking links – build up relationships with a range of Local Authorities, Community Groups, Education providers and other organisations.
Provide social value for the LCR communities – we’re looking to reach a range of individuals and age groups including forgotten communities, and to maximise social value. We will ask you to provide us with specific metric to support the calculation of this. Upon appointment we will discuss social value requirements with the successful group(s).
Funding linked to the Project
Organisations can apply to cover between one and six districts, with each application being scored in line with the criteria and awarded based on best value for each district. This may result in some districts remaining un-funded after the first round, and in this case we will re-issue funding for the remaining specified districts.
Up to £3,000 can be awarded for each district, with a maximum of £18,000 for an organisation wishing to cover all areas of the Liverpool City Region. This funding must cover all associated costs including venue hire, event management fees, materials, and any additional expenses.
Payment will be paid on completion of work; this can be completed in full at the end of the project, or in up to three phased payments based on reaching agreed outputs. We will evaluate each project application individually and will appoint the right organisation to deliver the best overall outcome for the LCR.
When will the project be delivered?
These food waste reduction workshops can run at any time between appointment and February 2027. With the final reports due for submission end of March 2027.
| Activity Detail: | Dates: |
| Published | 17th July 2026 |
| Deadline for tenders | 14th August 2026 |
| Supplier notified of award of contract | End of August 2026 |
| Project Initiation Meeting | Early September 2026 |
| Project End Report Due | 31st March 2027 |
Evaluating Applications
We will score applications received based on:
- 50% Meeting project objectives
- 40% Finance
- 10% Evaluation
If no applications are deemed appropriate (minimum scores above 65/100) during evaluation, MRWA reserve the right to re-list this opportunity to ensure the correct partner organisation is allocated for this funding.
How to apply
To apply, please download and complete the application form and send to laura.gilmore@merseysidewda.gov.uk or chauntelle.bowler@merseysidewda.gov.uk by 5pm 14th August 2026. If you have any questions, please contact laura.gilmore@merseysidewda.gov.uk or chauntelle.bowler@merseysidewda.gov.uk