The initiative has been set up by the environmental charity Global Action Plan in conjunction with East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council and the BIG Lottery Fund’s CRED Programme. It will run in Lewes for the next two years.
The Small Change programme is designed as a fun way for local residents to get together to create small changes in their everyday lives – to reap big environmental benefits.
Residents will meet up once a month and will work in groups of 6–8 with a local Small Change Officer to reduce their environmental impacts, make their home a healthier place and cut their household bills.
Topics covered will include household waste, shopping behaviour, energy use, transport, water use and use of household chemicals. During the meetings participants will be given lots of tips and practical advice and will be given a free environmental pack to start them off. At the end of each meeting everyone will decide on the actions that they will take and success will be measured and reviewed each month.
Anyone can take part in the Small Change project – friends, neighbours, colleagues, acquaintances; whether you own your home or rent, live in a house or a flat; young or old. Meetings usually take place in a member’s front room or in a local community centre and are sociable and informal.
The project has been running in Nottingham for the last two years and so far over 250 households have taken part. On average, team members reduced their household waste by 40%, energy use by over 20% and water use by 17%.
If you are interested in joining a Small Change team or would like some more information, contact: Amelia Peacock on 01273 482961 or email amelia.peacock@eastsussex.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
For more information about the United Nations Environment Program’s World Environment Day visit www.unep.org/wed/2005
Reference:
05/192/SH
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