Author: John Lally

Community groups and organisations celebrated their respective shares of £55,100 awarded through the 2025 Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund to support projects that enhance local wellbeing, improve the environment and support the community.

Representatives from each group recently came together at Tower Hill Community Hub in Kirkby to celebrate their success and share ideas. The hub, which was itself supported by the fund in previous years, has grown into a valued local space for collaboration and community support. The event gave this year’s recipients the chance to connect, exchange experiences and explore ways to work together.

The annual fund provided by Merseyside Energy Recovery Ltd (MERL) in partnership with SUEZ recycling and recovery UK (SUEZ), supports a wide range of initiatives from youth engagement and sport to mental health support and sustainable food projects.

Since launching in 2018, the fund has now invested £445,700 in local community projects across Northwood, Cherryfield, Shevington, Whitefield and Prescot North, helping to deliver lasting benefits for thousands of residents.

This year, funding has been awarded to 13 local groups and organisations selected for their commitment to making a real difference for Kirkby residents:

• Tower Hill Youth FC (£2,000) – Sporting Solutions. Affordable weekly football sessions with tactical training, breathwork and meditation, promoting healthy lifestyles and teamwork for children who may otherwise face barriers to participation.
• Tower Hill Community Hub (£4,600) – The Community Network. Weekly workshops offering financial advice, skills development, employability support, and social activities to help residents build resilience, confidence and community connections.
• Positive Futures (£9,900) – Targets Support Service. One-to-one and group support sessions for young people across Kirkby, delivered in accessible, youth-friendly spaces, to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
• Southdene Community Association (£3,600) – Smart Steps Programme. Financial health and wellbeing sessions to help families and vulnerable groups manage money effectively, reduce stress and build confidence through practical advice and peer support.
• Evolving Mindset (£2,500) – Kirkby Men’s Wellbeing Club. Thirty weeks of free weekly sessions combining physical activity with mental health support, tackling social isolation and promoting healthier lifestyles for over 100 local men.
• Mind Connect (£3,100) – Mind Connect Community. A wellbeing membership scheme offering group sessions, coaching, online support and community events to reduce mental health inequalities and social isolation through early intervention.
• FC Kirkby (£2,600) – Heads Up Project. Weekly inclusive football and peer support sessions to help men build confidence, connect socially and improve mental health in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.
• The Eco Therapy Garden (£1,600) – Healthy Food Hub Project. Subsidised healthy food, cooking demonstrations and seed growing to tackle poor nutrition and provide affordable, nutritious options for families and older residents.
• Sports Alive North West (£4,300) – Kirkby Youth and Play Project. STEM-focused kart-building and train station art initiatives to inspire creativity, teamwork and environmental awareness among young people media
• Me2U (£2,200) – Memories and Support. Fortnightly sessions for individuals and families following a dementia diagnosis, offering therapeutic activities, practical guidance and peer support to promote a “live well with dementia” ethos.
• The CELLS Project (£5,500) – Youth Club: Staffing, training and inclusive programming to provide a safe, creative youth space, including learning-disability training and coordination.
• Apollo Active (£8,600) – Sports in the Parks: 52 outreach sessions at Webster Park and Knowsley Lane recreation Ground, combining multisport activities, mentoring and pathway to accredited coaching qualifications.
• Centre 63 (£4,600) – Growing Garden: Transforming an outdoor area with an accessibility ramp, vertical growing wall and communal beds – creating an inclusive, social, food-growing space that reduces isolation.

The Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund was established as part of an agreement between MERL, which treat the residual waste from across Merseyside and Halton, and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA). SUEZ is one of the shareholders in MERL and the operator of Knowsley rail loading transfer station, where the residual waste is compacted onto rail containers to be sent on to an energy from waste facility to generate electricity.

Victoria Crabtree, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said: “It is always fantastic to see the dedication of local groups and the positive impact of their work. We are proud to continue supporting these initiatives, which bring communities together and deliver lasting benefits for residents across Kirkby. We look forward to receiving more applications when the fund reopens next Spring.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said “We recognise the incredible dedication of local groups in meeting the needs of their communities, and we are delighted this funding will provide a welcome boost to their services. It is always wonderful to hear of the local projects and initiatives helped by the Fund, and I look forward to seeing their progress.”

To learn more about the journey of Merseyside and Halton’s household waste, local schools and community groups are invited to book a visit to the Rail Transfer Loading Station in Knowsley, where they can explore how residual waste contributes to sustainable energy generation.

The Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund is open to applications from non-profit, constituted groups, and local schools, dedicated to community and environmental progress in the Kirkby area.

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Local not-for-profit organisation Earth Moves has launched an innovative environmental project to transform four acres of land into a biodiverse and regenerative community space.

The project will use a permaculture technique called hügelkultur to divert over four tonnes of local food waste, cardboard, and paper annually, turning it into nutrient-rich soil. Hügelkultur is a gardening technique where raised beds are created by planting on mounds made from decaying wood, cardboard and other compostable materials.

Based in Wallasey, the community-driven initiative aims to provide a tangible, low-cost solution to climate change while empowering local residents to take practical action in changing waste habits by learning composting skills they can use at home. Over a 12-month timeline, the project will engage the community through a series of hands-on activities, workshops, and educational outreach programs. Key objectives include preventing waste, increasing soil fertility, and creating an educational model that other communities can replicate.

The project has received £7698 through the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 which is managed by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia. The Fund aims to increase reuse, waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability across the region.

“This project is a critical intervention in times of environmental crisis,” said Paula Staunton, Project Lead and Director at Earth Moves. “By turning waste into a resource, we’re not just regenerating the land; we are building a resilient, informed, and empowered community that can take meaningful action against climate change.”

The project is aiming to directly engage with over 800 people, including local residents and businesses, and will generate an estimated 5,200 volunteer hours. Volunteers will receive training in sustainable practices like composting and permaculture, with support provided for expenses and mentoring.

Earth Moves recently (October 11th) held a hands‑on workshop on the site, where visitors were shown how to turn waste cardboard into a no‑dig meadow — a simple, eco‑friendly method suitable even for smaller garden patches. Using reclaimed cardboard, they demonstrated how to suppress weeds, build healthy soil, and prepare the ground for wildflowers and grasses without the need for digging or chemicals.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA, said: “Projects like this one are crucial in delivering useful information directly to residents and helping make positive changes in behaviour. We’re really looking forward to seeing how it develops.”

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Local Recycling Centres are set to switch to their shorter winter opening hours.

From Wednesday 1st October the Centres will be open from 8.00am until 5.00pm* in Merseyside and from 8.00am until 6.00pm in Halton – changing from the summer hours of 8.00am to 8.00pm.

There are 16 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the Liverpool City Region. They are operated by Veolia on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA).

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA, said: “We shorten the hours over the winter to coincide with the darker nights over the forthcoming months. The Recycling Centres accept a range of household materials for recycling, from batteries, cans and cardboard, through to garden clippings, glass bottles, wood, and white goods. They also accept lesser-known items such as food and drink cartons, clothes, hard plastics and electrical items.”

All 16 Recycling Centres across the region also have ‘Disposable Vape’ bins to help provide safe disposal and recycling routes for the millions of vapes currently thrown away across the country.

Householders can check www.recycleright.org.uk for details of what can be accepted at their local site.

The Centres provide a popular service for residents and can become extremely busy at peak times so visits should be planned carefully. There is a system in place for those who wish to visit in a van or with a large trailer. Bookings can be made at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk. For the two Halton facilities (Johnsons Lane and Picow Farm) householders should contact Halton Council at www.halton.gov.uk.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

The picture attached is of a Merseyside Household Waste Recycling Centre.

From October 1st 2025 until March 31st 2026 Merseyside’s Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open from 8.00am until 5.00pm*. The Centres are located at:
 

Knowsley –

Huyton – Wilson Road – L36 6AD
Kirkby – Depot Road, Knowsley Industrial Park – L33 3AR

Liverpool –

Old Swan – Cheadle Avenue – L13 3AF

Otterspool – Jericho Lane, Aigburth – L17 5AR

Sefton –

Formby – Altcar Road, Formby – L37 8EG
Sefton Meadows – Sefton Lane, Maghull – L31 8BX
Southport – Foul Lane, Scarisbrick New Road – PR9 7RG
South Sefton – Irlam Road, Bootle – L20 4AE

St Helens –

Newton-le-Willows – Junction Lane – WA12 8DN
*Rainhill – Tasker Terrace, Rainhill – L35 4NX
Ravenhead – Burtonhead Road, St. Helens – WA9 5EA

Wirral –

Bidston – Wallasey Bridge Road, Birkenhead – CH41 1EB
Clatterbridge – Mount Road, Clatterbridge – CH63 4JZ

West Kirby – Greenbank Road – CH48 5HR

*NB:

Rainhill:

Monday to Friday: Open 8.00am-5.00pm

Saturdays: Open 9.00am-5.00pm

Sundays: Open 9.00am–3.00pm

From October 1st 2025 until March 31st 2026 Halton’s Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open from 8.00am until 6.00pm. The Centres are located at:

Runcorn- Picow Farm Road – WA7 4UB

Widnes – Johnsons Lane – WA8 0SJ

There may be disruption to the access at Otterspool Household Waste Recycling Centre on the 9th August 2025 due increased traffic visiting the No Art Festival being held in Otterspool Drive Park.

The routes on Riverside Drive and Jericho Lane to access to the Centre will be busy with the additional Festival traffic but will remain open for the duration of the event. The surrounding routes are expected to be busiest with Festival visitors arriving from 12:00 – 16:00.

To avoid disruption, please use the Old Swan Recycling Centre, Cheadle Avenue, Old Swan, L13 3AF or any other Household Waste Recycling Centre in the Liverpool City Region.

Find your nearest Recycling Centre click here.

For more information on the No Art Festival: www.noartmusic.com/events/liverpool

Charities and community organisations across Kirkby, Merseyside, are invited to apply for a share of £50,000 from the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund, which is now open for 2025 applications.

The fund, which launched in 2018, supports wellbeing and environmental projects within the communities of Northwood, Cherryfield, Shevington, Whitefield, and Prescot North. The initiative is linked to the Knowsley Rail Transfer Station, operated by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA).

Victoria Crabtree, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said: “We are proud to continue supporting Kirkby’s incredible range of community groups. The projects funded last year have had a real, visible impact—from improving mental health and fitness to tackling food waste and building stronger communities. We are excited to see what this year’s applicants will bring forward and encourage all eligible organisations to apply.”

The fund is part of an ongoing agreement between Merseyside Energy Recovery Limited (MERL)—of which SUEZ is a shareholder—and MRWA. For every tonne of household residual waste transported from the transfer station, 10p is donated to the fund. It is an integral part of putting people and the planet at the forefront of the local communities that we serve.

In 2024, 11 projects were awarded funding, benefitting thousands of Kirkby residents. Successful applicants included:

• Kirkby Milers AC for a youth fitness and wellbeing initiative.
• Kindred LCR, which established a women-led community hub.
• Knowsley Foodbank, which launched a circular food-growing project with greenhouses and chickens.
• Mind Connect, offering free mental health hubs and education sessions.
• Tower Hill ABC, which expanded its boxing club and built a hub for elderly residents.
Councillor Catie Page, Chairperson of MRWA, said: “It’s brilliant to see how this fund continues to support the people of Kirkby. Local groups do so much to bring communities together, and MRWA is proud to be part of something that helps them grow, thrive, and make a real difference where it matters most.”

Not-for-profit groups, charities, and community organisations operating in the eligible areas are encouraged to apply for funding.

The deadline for 2025 applications is Friday 25 July 2025.

Those interested in applying are invited to attend an Open Day on Wednesday 25 June 2025, where they can meet the team, ask questions, and get guidance on submitting a strong application.

Further information, application guidance, and stories from last year’s recipients can be found at:
www.suezmerseyside.co.uk/kirkbyfund

ENDS

About SUEZ recycling and recovery UK
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK employs more than 7000 people, operating across hundreds of sites, and handles approximately 11 million tonnes of waste materials every year – a significant proportion of the UK’s total waste. Through collection, treatment, recycling and logistics operations, it serves more than 30,000 business customers and millions of householders throughout the country. Please visit https://www.suez.co.uk to find out more.

Contacts:

Samantha Carty
Email: samantha.carty@suez.com
Mobile : 07870540576

Sustainable Starts CIC, a not-for-profit organisation in Liverpool, has successfully launched a series of initiatives aimed at making sustainable living affordable and attainable for families, thanks to £8,000 in funding from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2024/25.

The project, which launched in summer 2024, has made significant strides in reducing waste and fostering a supportive, well-connected community. The funding has enabled Sustainable Starts CIC to deliver a range of impactful services, including:

Quarterly Clothes Swap Events: Promoting reuse and reducing textile waste.
A Growing Toy Library: Providing access to toys and reducing the need for new purchases.
Weekly Playgroups for Toddlers: Creating a space for families to connect and learn.
A Cloth Nappy Lending Library: Reducing disposable nappy waste and offering an eco-friendly alternative.
Monthly Cloth Nappy Library Workshops: Providing education and support for using cloth nappies.

Anna Martin, Chairperson of Sustainable Starts CIC, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are absolutely thrilled with the impact this project has had on local families. It means so much to our team to see the community coming together and embracing sustainable living. The funding from the Zero Waste Community Fund has been instrumental in making our vision a reality, and we are excited to continue building a more sustainable future for Liverpool.”

This month the project will reach a significant milestone with the opening of a permanent venue for its toy library at Queen’s Dock Business Centre in Liverpool’s vibrant Baltic Triangle. This dedicated space will further enhance the accessibility and impact of the toy library.

The Zero Waste Community Fund, delivered by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia, aims to increase reuse, recycling, and sustainability across the region. Sustainable Starts CIC’s work directly contributes to this goal by promoting a circular economy and cutting waste levels.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said: “We are delighted to see the success of Sustainable Starts CIC’s project. It’s fantastic to see how this funding is helping to cut waste and save families money. These initiatives are making a real difference in our community, and we are proud to support them.”

The project’s focus on lending libraries is a key component of its success, as these initiatives directly prevent the creation of waste, a crucial element in building a circular economy. By providing access to reusable items, Sustainable Starts CIC is empowering families to make sustainable choices while reducing their environmental footprint.

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Notes to editors:

Attached image captions: Sustainable Starts CIC parent toddler events in Liverpool

About Sustainable Starts CIC:

Sustainable Starts CIC is a not-for-profit community organisation based in Liverpool, dedicated to promoting sustainable living and supporting families. Through a range of initiatives, they aim to make sustainable practices accessible and affordable for all.

About Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority:

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the management of household waste in Merseyside and Halton. They are committed to promoting waste reduction, reuse, and recycling through a variety of initiatives, including the Zero Waste Community Fund.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Liverpool Half Marathon on SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025 – Restrictions to access at Otterspool Recycling Centre, Jericho Lane, Liverpool 

Access to and from Jericho Lane / Aigburth Road will be restricted between 9.00am – 12.00pm as runners pass from Sefton Park to Otterspool Park via the underpass and then across the top of Jericho Lane. The junction will be open as soon as the last runner passes into Otterspool Park.

To avoid disruption:

• Use Old Swan Recycling Centre, Cheadle Avenue, Old Swan, L13 3AF.
  
• Access via the Riverside Drive approach, by proceeding along Aigburth Road, Park Road left into Parliament Street, left into Sefton Street.

The road closure at the junction of Aigburth Road and Jericho Lane will be reopened when the last runner passes or at approximately 12.00pm.

For more detailed information on the half marathon and road closures please go to: www.btrliverpool.com

For your nearest Recycling Centre click here.

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Community groups in the Liverpool City Region are invited to apply for a share of £165,000 to support innovative projects that reduce waste and promote a greener future.

The Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 – managed by Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and Veolia – provides funding for community and voluntary groups, social enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations to implement projects that minimise household waste, maximise recycling and resource reuse, and mitigate carbon emissions.

Grants of up to £30,000 are available for projects that benefit at least four districts within the City Region, while grants between £1,000 and £8,000 are available for projects focused on a single local authority area.

Councillor Catie Page, Chairperson of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), emphasised the vital role of community groups: “We deeply value our partnerships with the region’s dedicated community groups. They are the heart of our communities, actively working to create a positive environmental impact. By empowering these groups to address local waste challenges, we not only benefit the environment but also foster a greater appreciation for resources and the value of reducing waste.”

Bids must tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment), Food, Textiles, Plastics and Furniture. An analysis* of waste in the region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be re-used or recycled. Projects can also include other household waste materials, for example paper or metals.

Previous Community Fund projects have included local recycling guidebooks, lending libraries, repair cafes, cookery clubs to support healthy eating and reduce food waste, fruit and veg gleaning, restoring old furniture to sell for charity and refurbishing unwanted rugs for resale.

One organisation to have previously received funding is Wirral Environmental Network (WEN), who were awarded £6300 for their Clothes Swap Cafes project, which aimed to reduce textiles waste through clothes swap events, sewing and repair workshops, and educational activities.

Naomi Graham, project co-ordinator at WEN, said the Zero Waste Community Fund Clothes Swap Cafe project has helped people across Wirral to take a more sustainable approach to fashion:

“We have enjoyed getting to know the people who have attended our Sustainable Fashion workshops and volunteered at the Clothes Swaps. Through the workshops, we had discussions about the environmental costs of fast fashion, chatted about how to make greener clothing choices, and then upcycled unwanted clothes and fabric into items such as bags and hair scrunchies.

“The success of the Clothes Swaps and workshops has encouraged some of the venues to hold more swapping events and think about ways they can provide support for reducing textile waste within their communities.”

Interested groups can apply to the 2025/26 Community Fund via www.merseysidewda.gov.uk/zero-waste-community-fund/

The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Sunday 9th March 2025.

Successful projects should receive the funding by mid-April 2025 and will have to deliver their schemes by March 2026.

Organisations interested in this year’s Community Fund can:

• Apply online at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk
• Contact the Authority:
  Community.fund@merseysidewda.gov.uk

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:
Sunday 9th March 2025, 11.59pm

ENDS

Note to editors

*Statistic from Merseyside and Halton Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22

Image captions: Attached images show Wirral Environmental Network Clothes Swap Café events.

• The £165,000 comes from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26, which has been running annually since 2006.
• The impact of the 2022/23 Fund saw 13 projects stop 467 tonnes of materials from going to waste, held 731 events and training sessions, and engaged with over 16,000 people across the Liverpool City Region.
• The Zero Waste Community Fund is open to community and voluntary sector groups, faith groups, not for profit social enterprises and schools in Merseyside and Halton.
• Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside. Established in 1986 following the abolition of Merseyside County Council, it is a statutory Authority that works with all the local authorities on Merseyside – Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. MRWA takes a lead in advocating recycling, waste minimisation and safe and effective disposal of waste for Merseyside residents.

Friendly weekly Upcycling group at Calderstones Park is looking for new members, launching a Saturday group and appealing for furniture donations.

The Reader’s dedicated community Upcycling Group, which has been running for more than five years, is looking to expand and is offering free workshops for members.

Two friendly and open weekly volunteer group sessions committed to restoring or ‘upcycling’ furniture and other items meet every Friday at The Coach House – one of the Liverpool charity’s spaces in Calderstones Park, in the same courtyard as the Ice Cream Parlour and The Storybarn. They take place between 10am-1pm; and 1-4pm.

Thanks to new funding from Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) the Upcycling group is able to offer three free workshops for volunteer upcyclers in January and February.

Designer and upcycler Nicky Cash, who runs Done Up North, a Wirral-based upcycling business, and has appeared on the BBC’s flagship upcycling programme, Money for Nothing, as an artisan, will be leading workshops on Wood Revival and Restoration; Upholstery skills and Metallic design.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), said: “This is an outstanding project, and I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in its successful delivery. By empowering people with the skills to repair and refurbish items, this initiative promotes a circular economy by reducing waste and unnecessary consumption.

“The workshops are inspiring, demonstrating the value of keeping usable furniture out of the waste stream and ensuring it continues to serve its purpose within our communities. I strongly encourage the development of similar initiatives that divert valuable furniture from the waste stream and ensure it continues to serve its purpose within our communities.”

The Upcycling Group is also looking for new members on a Friday, as well as announcing plans to establish a second group on a Saturday, with thanks to further funding from Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and launching an appeal for furniture donations which could be upcycled.

No upcycling experience is required by anyone interested in joining the group, and the group has projects ready to be worked on. It receives support from volunteer leads and members of staff from The Reader, who will train members to use equipment when necessary.

Mary Crotty, Engagement Manager at The Reader, the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity, which runs more than 490 shared reading groups across the Liverpool City Region and rest of the UK, said: “Our Upcycling Group is a friendly and dedicated community of volunteers. The drop-in group – which has morning and afternoon sessions – is incredibly welcoming and keen to get stuck into new projects and ideas.

“They add such a unique string to our bow of community wellbeing groups. I’d strongly encourage all who are curious to get in touch and have a go.”

Members of the group restore second hand, antique or vintage wooden furniture by sanding, re-varnishing, waxing or painting. They make repairs as needed, upholster and re-purpose older pieces of furniture or household items.

Projects can vary from turning an armchair, an old bike and standard lamp into a pedal-powered reading-light-chair for children in The Storybarn to repurposing bookcases and picture frames.

An upcycled piece of furniture can be returned to the owner, sold to raise funds towards The Reader’s charity work, created for use within the charity or sold to partner organisations, such as housing associations at a discounted rate, ensuring furniture goes to go to those most in need.

• Anyone who has a potential item they would like to donate should programmes@thereader.org.uk including a photograph of the piece. Furniture may be in need of minor repairs. The group is unable to collect furniture from people’s homes.
• Anyone who would like to join the upcycling group or like some more information can email Mary at programmes@thereader.org.uk

CASESTUDY (with photo of Hilda Kiernan)

Hilda Kiernan, from the Wirral, came to attend a Shared Reading group at The Reader after the pandemic around three years ago and ended up joining the charity’s community Upcycling Group.

A creative and former medical secretary, she has a degree in fine art and literature while also volunteers for Heart4Refugees on the Wirral, running art therapy for Syrian refugees.

She said: “I am very much into recycling and upcycling. It is so satisfying to create something new out of something which would have been thrown away.

“I did up a couple of piano stools and am currently sanding down a rocking chair – what I like about that is being in the fresh air of the park surroundings, chatting to the dog walkers. It’s very rewarding especially when someone likes what you’ve made and buys it.

“It’s lovely to see creativity around you and we are guided and supported by The Reader’s Operations and Facilities team.

“There are half a dozen of us in the Friday morning group and they are all absolutely lovely people. We are a mixed group from all walks of life but everyone is welcome. Outside of the group we have a meet up lunch and over Christmas both groups we all went to a pub for a Christmas lunch together which was great.

“We’re all looking forward to the upcoming workshops.”