The course will run over ten weeks beginning on Thursday 20th January 2011. The sessions will run from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and be held in the Amberley Room at Dove Lodge in Littlehampton.

There will also be a course in Crawley beginning on Tuesday 18th January 2011. The sessions will run from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and be held in the conference room at the Crawley Volunteer Centre, Crawley.

For more information, or if you are interested please email info@bettertomorrows.org.uk, or call 01243 642106.

Steyning is a step nearer its goal of being a plastic bag free zone.  3000 eco-friendly bags have been given to every household plus most of nearby Bramber for them to use instead as part of a campaign led by the Parish Council.

Backed by Better Tomorrows (the not for profit community interest company dedicated to reducing household waste), West Sussex Waste Partnership, West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council, the campaign, through Better Tomorrows, won £1000 funding the Naturesave Trust, the charity arm of the ethical insurance company, Naturesave Insurance.

John de Mierre, Chairman of Better Tomorrows, said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with the Parish Council on this project, which is proving very popular with townspeople.  It’s great to see so many of these bags being used by shoppers and let’s hope we see less and less of their plastic predecessors.   And we’re very grateful to the town’s major supermarkets – Co-Op and Somerfield for giving plastic bags a low profile, while highlighting the alternative.”

Derek Whittington, County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “All in all, the huge efforts have been well rewarded to the benefit of Steyning and the environments.”   

Click here to read the full article.

http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/compost_awareness.html

What do Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and singer Tom Jones have in common?

They are both joining West Sussex County Council in supporting Earth Hour on Saturday March 27.

Click here to go to the WWF Earth Hour website.

They are taking part in the annual Sculpture Challenge staged by Better Tomorrows, the not-for-profit community interest company that is spearheading a range of initiatives to encourage sustainable living in West Sussex.

The students – who attend Central Sussex, Northbrook and Worthing colleges – are reflecting the company’s aims by making sculptures out of reused or recycled material.

The works will be judged in May and the winning entry will be displayed for up to six months in the Cass Sculpture Foundation in Goodwood.

Last year’s winner was Stuart Slade, 35, from Northbrook College, Worthing, who said: “The whole experience of taking part in the competition was very rewarding.

“For me, having a piece of work displayed at the Cass Foundation was a great achievement. The exposure the competition gave me and the siting of the sculpture was a very positive thing.”

John de Mierre, Chairman of Better Tomorrows, said: “We are achieving two aims with this competition.

“First, we are highlighting the importance of recycling, just how easy it is to recycle and the wide range of material that can be re-used or recycled, rather than being sent to landfill.

“Second, it is encouraging young artists in West Sussex and offers them the opportunity to gain a first class shop window for their artistic achievement.”

Click on the video link to find out more.

Phil the Bin

SO, WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A VOLUNTEER WASTE PREVENTION ADVISOR IN WEST SUSSEX?

Almost 2 years after signing up to be recruited and trained as a Volunteer with the title: Waste Prevention Advisor, I have asked this question to myself recently, by taking an honest step back to asses: what is it like?

From the moment of recruitment by West Sussex County Council and Better Tomorrows, I was treated as someone special by the staff as someone who, with training and guidance, could make an enormous difference in West Sussex, by reaching out to communities at grass routes.

My personal experience has been one of a journey of the mind - of high-quality training to interaction with locals at grass routes and encounters with amazing co-volunteers from all walks of life. The skills and knowledge of my peers are phenomenal and as varied as is typical of the United Kingdom. What is however not varied is the common denominator, which bonds us together: that of a passion for this County, country and the environment, of which we are all custodians

The glue, bonding us further, is the commitment to work together, no matter what our personal background or culture is, to make a difference as equals around one common goal. Volunteers are encouraged to be creative and develop new initiatives, fit for their special interest or community and to think out of the box.

The team at West Sussex County Council and Better Tomorrows has equipped me from day one, and still continue to do so, with the skills and knowledge on how to manage waste, ensure health and safety is adhered to, and to reach out to the public with information on waste prevention, which includes household, food and business waste at various events. These range from Farmer’s Markets, to Shows, Carnivals, Festivals, Non-profit Organizations, Seniors and Rate Payers Associations and many more. From home visits to Power Point Presentations to educational and interactive knowledge transfer to school learners and their tutors.

This means interaction with everyone who visits these events and thus the unique chance to interact with a broad spectrum of our population, literally empowering me to keep my feet firmly on the ground and see the bigger picture of what people are thinking, doing and learn of their interesting lifestyles.  In itself this is an honour and a huge platform to build knowledge - and it’s free! All I do is pass on knowledge of something I know will help the environment and save everyone a lot of money! By implementing the skills and knowledge so well presented, that even a child can understand it, I have saved myself a significant amount of money and effort as well.

Finally, traveling around the County via green valleys, I see trees in spring and fall colours, rolling hills and waves, fields bursting with yields, fat sheep on short legs and all the other animals out to pasture, both tame and wild deer foraging and rabbits showing off their bushy tails. I sample and buy food, see art, produce and new gadgets offered by talented people from around the country. I am beguiled by the children, who are avid learners, learn from the senior citizens and have even been regaled by the Town Crier in towns down south.

What a beautiful County to live in and do my bit to make a difference: what great people I have met in my work as a volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor!  If this is up your ally - and you have the time and inclination to volunteer and learn a new skill:  do the wise thing - join us today!

Anthea Rossouw, Waste Prevention Advisor – CRAWLEY

RELEASED for WSCC & Better Tomorrows:  1^st June 2009

http://www.ciwm.co.uk/mediastore/FILES/15720.pdf