European Funding Won for West Sussex

Better Tomorrows Community Interest Company has successfully won a 2Seas Interreg European Funding Bid (£250K) on behalf of West Sussex County Council for Waste Prevention Projects.

The aim of the “SWAP Now” European 2Seas Project (Smart Ways in the Approach of Prevention using New communication strategies On Waste) is to effectively use new lines of approach to bring about behaviour change in waste prevention. 

The projects will be implemented over a three year period (2011-2014) and involves 4 partners in Europe who are committed to sharing their expertise in waste prevention and waste management in their respective local regions.The joint partnership involves: IOK Waste Management, lead partner (Flanders, Belgium with a 70% recycling rate), IMOG Waste Management (Kortrijk, Belgium), Adur and Worthing Borough Council & West Sussex County Council.

The project as a whole is an exchange of innovative projects never tested before.  It will bring experience to some partners never involved in cross-border co-operation before.  It highlights the work of EU programmes and provides networking opportunities for waste officers in different areas of the EU that have never had the opportunity to work together. It will also provide the partners with the additional opportunity of working alongside leaders in Europe on Waste and Recycling, developing new initiative for a target group.  From their experience in working with target groups, the partners know that direct contact is an effective means of communication to sensitize members of the community to bring about personal behaviour change in waste prevention.

The funding will go towards providing direct communication through means of Text Messaging, Plasma Screens being placed at Household Waste Recycling Sites displaying waste prevention messages, also Interactive Mobile Workshops going out into the community and attending events. Also help the EU partners with the implementation of a Waste Prevention Volunteer Scheme - similar to the successful Waste Prevention Volunteer Scheme currently running in the West Sussex region.

Having won the funding, Better Tomorrows have also been awarded the task to fully implement this very innovative and challenging project on behalf of West Sussex County Council.  Click here for further information on European Cross Border Programmes.