TWO St Helens community groups have scooped a share of £165,000 aimed at helping people reduce, reuse and recycle.

Carmel College’s sensory garden and Changing Communities CIC, the recycling shop in Sutton, are two organisations that have received funding from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia Community Fund 21/22, which aims to support local waste prevention, re-use and recycling initiatives.

Seventeen regional winners will receive a financial boost to deliver waste-reducing behavioural change projects across the region with programmes including cookery clubs and food waste, sewing classes and craft clubs, and up cycling and restoration of unwanted furniture.

Applications had to tackle one or more of the four priority household waste materials - food, plastic, textiles and furniture - as well as paper, card and metals.

Carmel College has secured £8,000 having received Community Fund money in 2018 for its Foundation Learning Department’s sensory garden, which was created using reclaimed materials.

Lauren Molyneux, foundation learning tutor at Carmel College, said: “Our previous project used the funding to create an amazing space in what was previously an overgrown patch of ground using unwanted and reclaimed materials.

“This time round, we’re holding workshops which will equip students with the skills to reuse and repurpose old and unwanted furniture and clothes as well as teaching them how to grow their own food.

“We’re looking forward to getting started.”

Changing Communities CIC – Restore St Helens will host a series of furniture up cycling workshops offering donations to vulnerable residents and setting up seven school reading corners.

Cllr Tony Concepcion, chairperson of Merseyside Recycling Waste Authority (MRWA), said: “There are a lot of communities concerned about climate change and sustainable living.

“Giving groups the opportunity to look after the environment can bring benefits to all of us and can help appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which might just be thrown away.

St Helens Star: Carmel College’s sensory garden

“Projects we have previously funded have continued to deliver benefits beyond the first year, through their legacy and ongoing impact on behavioural change, and in many cases through new or continuing activities.

“There has been some disruption with the Covid-19 pandemic but we’re confident that these projects will go ahead.

“I wish them all the best and look forward to seeing the impact they have.”

The 17 successful organisations have until March next year to deliver their projects.