CCFC is a new programme of work delivered by a unique partnership between CN4C, CWA and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.
The project has been inspired by other successful projects that break down food growing into easy and practical steps, making fresh, organic produce accessible to families on low incomes in Cornwall. This is achieved through supporting 400 households to install and maintain their own vegetable patch and to compost in the own homes. Each household is given a set of basic tools, seeds and plants and they learn how to maintain their plots through accredited training courses and local gardening clubs. Composting support is provided through advice and guidance and the provision of compost bins and through the recruitment and training of compost champions who act as mentors within their communities.
The Compost Mentor Scheme increases composting awareness and community involvement in composting activities through the recruitment and training of local people by CWA to become compost volunteers by CWA.
These volunteers form a network of compost mentors who are linked through the CCFC project. Through the co-ordination of the CWA Compost Development Worker, volunteers are trained and supported to become local compost mentors who promote home composting in their own communities by providing advice and attending external events, as well as giving presentations about home composting to community groups and schools. CWA provides the necessary support for volunteers through structured training sessions about composting, enabling participants to go back into their own communities and promote behavioral change, as well as being a source of advice and support to new and existing composters.
The Government’s Waste Strategy of 2007 places a greater focus on waste prevention and sets new targets to reduce the amount of household waste not re-used, recycled or composted. Targets for recycling and composting of household waste now need to be at least 40% by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.
To make these targets a reality, community engagement activities as proposed by CWA for this project need to be undertaken within communities through local collaboration rather than directives from local and national government. Mentors act as a group of enthusiastic, fully trained volunteers and will help CWA to raise awareness about the importance of home composting to meet waste minimisation targets.
CWA will co-ordinate this project and provide additional knowledge and advice about composting to support the mentors via meetings, telephone, email, website and forum, as well as local press, community newsletters and events. CWA also sustains and manages the increased public interest in composting that this project develops.
All volunteers are recruited by CWA from the targeted communities and will not be expected to be an experienced gardeners or even current composters. Mentors receive all the training required to carry out their activities, in addition to the help and support of the CWA Project Worker and supplementary peer support from other volunteers.
Each targeted area will recruit 30 mentors from its locality during the lifetime of this project and CWA expects participants to have a range of backgrounds. CWA supports those with additional needs and encourages the personal development of all volunteers.
The initiative allows participants to learn more about home composting and how it links with gardening and the environment, whilst volunteers meet new people and learn new skills that make a difference to their community through sustainable resource use, improved neighbourhoods and the re-engagement of community spirit.
The CWA project worker works in close collaboration with partner organisations, through linking the compost initiative with the food growing project and providing compost for that project’s future needs. CWA provides support to the development of more formal groups that develop during this project, through management committee membership and other services.
