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Getting to Know Bristol ReUse

Posted on: 04 Jul 2015

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At 365Bristol we do try and cover all the positive stuff going on in Bristol and Bristol ReUse seems like it is doing some good things for Bristol. We spoke with their development manager Jessica Hodge to find out what they are all about.

 

When did you set up Bristol ReUse and what are its goals and aspirations?

 

I didn’t set up Bristol ReUse. It was set up by a group of people involved in re-use in Bristol who wanted to raise the profile of re-use, and make the sector stronger. It came out of the Green Capital Partnership. Following funding by Bristol 2015 they were able to employ a Development Manager (that’s me).

 

The goals and aspirations are for reuse to be the norm. At the moment the norm is for people to throw things away and buy new and that is not sustainable. In the past three decades, one-third of the planet’s natural resources base have been consumed. So of course, we need to re-use what we already have, and not make more and more stuff. 

 

Households in England are throwing away £435m in repairable goods every year according to research from the Local Government Association. 

 

In Bristol we want to set up a reuse centre, so we are looking for land, where lots of reuse organisations can be based. A reuse alternative to Cabot Circus if you like. Bristol Wood Recycling Project, a founder member of Bristol ReUse are about to lose their site, so we need to act fast. Click here for more background reading!. 

 

The Bristol ReUse site (if we can get one) would also an alternative to the HWRCs (the tip) where although they have a great recycling rate, not much of the furniture, electrical items etc that are dropped off can be reused, because it’s been dropped into skips. If that TV wasn’t broken before it was thrown in a skip, it definitely will be afterwards. So we want to provide a place where people in Bristol can donate unwanted items, and also buy them, instead of throwing things away and buying new.

 

By forming a network we hope to be stronger, so several community reuse organisations could group together to win a big contract they couldn’t service on their own, or access funding.

 

Are you from Bristol?

 

I grew up in Somerset so used to go to gigs in Bristol when I was growing up, then moved away. I moved to Easton in August last year and love it.

 

How is it going?

 

Great! I’m only two months into the job and I’ve been cycling around Bristol and meeting loads of different projects, like Re:Work on Filwood Broadway, Tangent Field in Centre Space and FareShare in St Judes. Lots of inspirational stuff happening, and most of the projects have social *and* environmental objectives. So by reusing ‘waste’ furniture or food they provide goods for people on low income, and training and employment too.

 

How can people get involved?

 

People can get involved by reusing stuff. Think twice before you buy something new and check whether there’s a good second hand option. There’s some projects listed on our website: www.bristolreuse.com but there’s loads more out there that we aren’t connected with yet. Whether it’s amazing Facebook forums like BS5 booty, or your local jumble sale or trail. And donate stuff, don’t bin it. Someone might really need that chair/pair of trousers/plate, even if you don’t want it anymore.

 

We are planning to revamp our website and will have loads of resources for people who want to run their own reuse events. I went to a brilliant clothes swap at Easton Energy Group last month and got loads of new work clothes - I’ve spent the last four years running a city farm so I didn’t really have anything office-y. So if people want to run their own events we can help you, or put you in touch with other people you can learn from.

 

Finally, if you run a reuse project you can join the network. It’s an informal network at the moment, so no forms to fill in or anything. Just come along to an event, or send me a message. 

 

How do you find running a community organisation in Bristol?

 

Well we are not an organisation as such yet... I’ll keep you posted. At the moment Bristol ReUse Network is kindly hosted by Resource Futures.

 

The project has been funded through the Bristol 2015 European Green Capital, can we assume this is one of the non-controversial run by a funding judge projects! How far is the funding taking the project?

 

I’d say it’s not controversial. We have clear social and environmental objectives and we are Bristol-based.

 

What advice would you give to any Bristol organisations struggling with funding or volunteers?

 

If struggling for enough volunteers I’d suggest asking similar organisations with enough volunteers whether they can refer new enquiries from potential volunteers to your project. Also the University of Bristol and UWE both have volunteering projects going on as part of Green Capital year, and they are always keen to hear from organisations who wish to find student volunteers. Email jessica.sharratt@bristol.ac.uk for more info.

 

Funding is a struggle for most organisations at some point. All I can say is that it’s OK to expand and contract as funding becomes available, Contracting at the end of a big project is fine, if continuing it is not possible, don’t think that you’ve failed. Just try and get your core services covered by self generated income (yep, easier said than done) and use funding for discreet projects if possible. Actually I think the current fashion of most funders wanting to support new projects rather than core services is really damaging. They always include a paragraph in the application form about how you are going to sustain the new project after the funding period but in most cases it’s not realistic.  I would really like to see more funders supporting core services – whether that’s the running costs of a drop-in centre or staff for a helpline or a volunteer manager – this is the stuff that the charity needs to fund ongoing to meet its charitable objectives and serve its community. No funder wants to pay for electricity and core staff and loo roll because that’s not exciting. It is necessary though.

 

8. Where do you like to eat out in Bristol?

 

*drools* So many good places! I stopped for a Bánh mì and doughnut from the Mighty Food Fight on my way back from my interview for this job, and it was delicious and they were super friendly and I got the job. So that feels like a mighty special food truck to me. I also like popping into Zero Zero pizza in Easton. It’s so small that if you eat in you end up in conversation with Rob and Estelle who run it and every customer who comes in for takeaway. They do delicious seasonal pizzas. And Poco for evening meals is delicious, love having lots of little dishes to try and the seasonal cocktails are brilliant. Also the salads in the Create Centre (where I’m based) cafe are brilliant for lunch. You get a lot of your 5 a day for £3.50.

 

9. What's your favourite place in Bristol?

 

Too hard to narrow down to one place, but I really like taking my kid to the awesome Felix Road Adventure Playground and also Windmill Hill City Farm. Both and free and have lots of lovely outdoors space.

 

10. If you were Mayor of Bristol for a day which one thing would you change?

 

I’d hand all the empty buildings and sites over to community groups, social housing, social enterprises and ethical start up businesses at affordable rents or even asset transfers. Market rents are prohibitive for lots of organisations and yet those organisations save society loads of money by providing jobs, training, education, food for hungry people, help to those who need it most and by reducing our impact on the environment, the financial benefits of which are enormous. So it makes sense to subsidise their running costs – it actually can money saving in the long term to give buildings away for free. Especially if the council don’t have the money to maintain them. And like I said, funders don’t like paying core costs like rent. Win-win.

 

Can I have another one? I’d make building companies wanting to demolish a building require a permit from the council, which would only be given if they were going to carefully deconstruct the building in a way that 90% of the materials could be re-used, or could prove that the building wasn’t repairable. Bulldozing old buildings is so wasteful its horrifying.

 

Find out more about Bristol ReUse by visiting their website at www.bristolreuse.com.

 

Pictured below are some of the Bristol ReUse members - left to right : Aimee Campanella, Bristol Textile Recyclers, Nicci Peck, Sofa Project, Jane Stephenson, Resource Futures and Jacqui Reeves, FareShare South West. 

 

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