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Creative community recycling centre in running for funding boost at Newcastle’s Silverlink Shopping Park
| Author: Gareth Hughes | Published: 7th August 2014 17:58 |
North Tyneside-based House of Objects will be amongst other local groups hoping to get their green fingers on the Big Green Leaf Community Award at an environmental family fun day at Newcastle's Silverlink Shopping Park.
The Underneath The Big Green Leaf event, on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9, will enlist the help of a cavalcade of characters including Bugella Burrows and Walter Droplet, who will encourage families to engage in fun and interactive sustainability activities from beneath a giant inflatable leaf canopy.
Calls are being made for other local community groups to join House of Objects in showcasing their work, and shoppers will be able to vote with special tokens for the cause that they feel is most deserving of the prize of up to £1,000 towards their environmental project or initiative.
Emma Pace, Director of House of Objects, said she was happy to put the independent Community Interest Company forward.
Explaining more about the eco-friendly initiative, she said: "House of Objects exists to change attitudes about waste, reduce landfill and provide opportunities for schools, families and communities to engage in creative education and play.
"We hope to change the way people think about rubbish inspiring creative ways to reuse, recycle and remake from waste."
She added: "Each week we go out and collect good waste from local businesses and industry and organise in our warehouse for members to collect for re use. Alongside our vast warehouse of materials we run workshops in our specialist studio space to explore the potential of waste materials.
"Members can come and collect materials and anyone can book a workshop. All workshops are designed to inspire participants to think differently about waste and to demonstrate how waste can be reused creatively and to great effect."
The initiative, based at The Rising Sun Country Park, was originally set up by North Tyneside Council in 2007 but in 2012 became an independent, not for profit community interest company.
Since the new business was formed, House of Objects has successfully built partnerships with 50 local businesses, collected 90 van loads of waste materials a year for re-use, and delivered creative recycling workshops to 3,400 children in 12 months.
They have also created jobs, trained over 350 adults in working creatively to reduce waste, and forged links with 300 schools, nurseries and community groups - who, as members - use the centre as a source of inspiration around reuse of waste materials and a place to hold workshops, training and events.
Emma said: "We want to continue to provide inspiring creative experiences for local children in North Tyneside and have been asked to develop satellite projects in neighbouring local authorities. We will also be on the look out for new suppliers and donators of materials and will be offering team building days for businesses.
"If we were to win the Big Green Leaf Community Award, we would use the funds to develop our offer to families. This would include a dedicated section of our website for families, sharing ideas for creative projects using waste materials, advertising events as well as producing publicity about how families can get involved."
The Big Green Leaf event takes place at Silverlink Shopping Park on August 8 and 9 from 11am until 4pm, where there will be a wide range of free family-friendly activities and giveaways.
Bugella Burrows - keeper of insects and lover of bugs - will introduce children to a real Giant African snail called Slimon and a giant millipede named Oozmelda.
Other characters include professional composter, Wormarie Compostulaire who will teach youngsters about food waste and recycling, and Litter Bug who patrols the area looking for rubbish.
Jo Francis, Head of Retail Property Management for the Regional Portfolio at The Crown Estate, which owns Silverlink Shopping Park, said: "We are really looking forward to the Big Green Leaf event coming to the Silverlink Shopping Park where there will be fun, interactive and educational activities for the family - all from beneath a giant inflatable leaf canopy.
"Silverlink welcomes other local community groups to come forward to showcase the green work they do in order to be in with a chance of receiving the Big Green Leaf Community Award."
There will also be exclusive retailer offers and discounts for shoppers to enjoy plus a chance to win shopping vouchers and prizes.
The Big Green Leaf Community Award will only be eligible to well established registered charities and not-for-profit community organisations or agencies.
Ideally these should be based within a five mile radius of the Silverlink Shopping Park and whom who have put their green project forward to the Silverlink Shopping Park Big Green Leaf campaign. Full terms and conditions will be supplied on application from Amy Hodges at amy.hodges@eu.jll.com or call 01132 616 250.
For more information about the event go to www.silverlinkshoppingpark.co.uk or like the page on Facebook.
Picture caption
1A/6A: Alice Pentland, aged 5, enjoys her visits to House of Objects.
2A: House of Objects Director Emma Pace.
7A/8A: The House of Objects encourages people to get creative with waste.
Notes to editors:
Silverlink Shopping Park
• Silverlink Shopping Park is located at the junction of the A19 and A1058 (Coast Road) approximately 6 miles to the east of Newcastle City Centre. NE28 9ND.
• Home to 23 retail and food stores including big brands; Argos, Marks and Spencer, Boots, New Look, River Island, Mothercare, Next, Frankie & Benny's and many more
• Find out more at www.silverlinkshoppingpark.co.uk or visit Twitter @SilverlinkPark / Facebook.com/SilverlinkShoppingPark
The Crown Estate
• The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by
Act of Parliament.
• 100% of its annual profits are returned to the Treasury for the benefit of the
public finances.
• Over the last 10 years The Crown Estate has returned over £2.2bn to the
Treasury. In the last financial year the value of the business rose to almost
£10bn and its profits were £267m.
• Across its diverse portfolio, The Crown Estate's approach remains consistent;
driving sustainable returns and growth through an active approach to asset
management and long term investment in four key sectors; Central London's
West End, prime regional retail, rural land and offshore wind.
• The Crown Estate's portfolio is one of the most diverse anywhere in the
world, including some of the UK's most iconic assets:
o All of Regent Street and much of St James's in central London;
o A UK top five portfolio of prime regional retail and leisure assets;
o One of the nation's largest rural land portfolios;
o The entire UK seabed and around 50% of the foreshore.
• The Crown Estate's history can be traced back to 1066. In the 21st
is a successful, commercial enterprise, established as a market leader in its
key sectors and known for a progressive, sustainable approach that creates
long term value, beyond its financial.
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