Real Nappy Schemes -
Promoting Waste Prevention Through Partnership
| Women's
Environmental Network Real Nappy Schemes - Promoting Waste Prevention Through Partnership |
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This index has been compiled with the generous co-operation of the many organisations involved in real nappy partnerships. WEN would like to thank everyone who participated in its creation. The information published has been provided by the 'partnerships' and there are not yet any national standard methods for information gathering and calculations. Publication here does not imply endorsement by WEN of any particular methodology. If you are actively promoting real nappies in partnership with another organisation and would like your scheme to be included in our index please e-mail nappies@wen.org.uk |
Funded
by |
| I'm not supermum |
| Areas Served Hereford & Worcester |
| Type of Scheme |
| Start Year 2003 |
| End Year Ongoing |
| New Real Nappy Users No Information Yet |
| No. of Temporary Jobs 0 |
| No. of Permanent Jobs 0 |
| Waste Prevented (tonnes) No Information Yet |
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Money Saved on Expenditure No Information Yet |
| Money Saved on Disposal No Information Yet |
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Notes Funding: The project has been funded by Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council. Aims: To promote a positive image of real nappies and demonstrate that they do have a place in modern lifestyles. Facilitate choice over the nappies used by offering an incentive scheme where a contribution is made towards the cost of real nappies as opposed to being given nappy samples. To provide an attractive incentive to encourage families to try real nappies and assist them with further purchases when their baby grows if they continue to use the nappies. To further the positive and active relationships built with the Primary Care teams and Surestart teams. To promote the environmental benefits of using real nappies. Scheme History: February 2003: Permanent real nappy displays were put up at all maternity units across the county. Real Nappy literature and leaflets were handed out to Midwives and Health Visitors at a special lunch to launch the partnership between the two parties. May 2003: 90 buckets of nappy samples worth £70 were given to parents in the Worcester City, Droitwich and Malvern area who expressed an interest in trying real nappies. Questionnaires were sent to these parents on a regular basis. Initial feedback suggested that certain nappies from the sample range were not being used, as the parents didn’t like them. It was decided that parents would be allowed to choose the nappies that they would like to try in any future trials. September 2003: Monthly Nappuccino Mornings were introduced in Worcester City. November 2003: Monthly Nappuccino Mornings were introduced in Pershore. December 2003: Regional Real Cotton Nappies video was produced by a Consortium made up of local authorities based in the Midlands area. Jan 2004: A £60 incentive scheme was introduced and made available to 50 parents in the Worcester City, Droitwich and Malvern area who expressed an interest. The Parents chose the nappies that they wanted to try after being given a demonstration from the Lollipop Agent. March 2004: A second lunch was held for Midwives and Health Visitors to update them on the campaign and hand out copies of the video. April 2004: 50 parents in the Worcester City, Droitwich and Malvern area who expressed an interest received a contribution of £40 towards their initial purchase of nappies and a further contribution of £20 when they required the next size. June 2004: A ‘Name That Nursery’ Campaign was started with the aim of identifying any childcare placements that accept children wearing real nappies in their establishment. This information could then be passed on to parents. A press release was sent out to publicise the scheme. July 2004: 50 parents in Worcestershire and 50 parents in Herefordshire received a £25 contribution to their initial purchase and a further contribution of £15 towards the next sizes if they continue. August 2004: Monthly Nappuccino Mornings were introduced in Malvern. September 2004: The Children's Information Service offered to gather data about childcare placements that accept children wearing cloth nappies. October 2004: Nappuccino mornings were introduced in Hereford City. Scheme: This scheme is multifaceted. It is built around the positive, modern image of a Mother and her child with the words: “I’m not Supermum so I take a realistic approach to real nappies.” This is used on all publications to develop a recognisable brand. Through the commitment of the Lollipop Agents within the two Counties, monthly Nappuccino Mornings are held in four venues in Worcestershire and one venue in Herefordshire. These events are free coffee mornings where parents and parents-to-be can look at the real nappies in a friendly, informal environment. As well as a demonstration, individual advice is available to all parents, including those who are already using real nappies. A video produced by a consortium of local authorities in the West Midlands region is also available for viewing. An incentive scheme is currently being offered through the Worcester City and Herefordshire Lollipop Agents to parents who express an interest in trying real nappies. The Council offers a contribution of £25 towards the initial purchase of real nappies with the full help, support and advice of the agent. Those who continue with the real nappies receive a further contribution of £15 when they move onto the next size. In return, parents are asked to complete a questionnaire every three months throughout their child’s nappy wearing life. Ongoing support is given to the parents throughout their time using real nappies via their Lollipop Agent. Parents are told about the incentive scheme and the Nappuccino Mornings through the Lollipop Agent demonstrations. The Agents regularly talk to Antenatal groups, Postnatal groups and at baby cafes organised by the local Sure Start group. Once using real nappies, some parents who return to work have difficulties in finding childcare where real nappies are accepted. Together with the Children’s Information Service (a Worcestershire County Council service that provides free information and advice on early years education, childcare and other services for children aged 0-14 years) a register of childcare placements that accept real nappies is being formulated. A ‘Guide to Using Real Nappies in Childcare Placements’ has been written and sent to all placements through the Children’s Information Service newsletter. Promotion: Several leaflets are produced and sent to Midwives, Health Visitors and Doctor’s surgeries on a regular basis. The Children’s Information Service distributes the leaflets through their information packs and the Lollipop agents make them available wherever possible. Worcestershire Waste Management team also make leaflets available when attending promotional events. Childcare placement centres which agree to be on the “Name that Nursery” register make these leaflets available in all prospectuses sent out. Press releases are issued when new Nappuccino Mornings venues are introduced and to update the public on any news where necessary. This scheme also coincides with national activities such as Real Nappy Week. Advertising space has also been taken in booklets that are distributed to new parents in the two Counties. Contributions have been made to the Worcestershire County Council staff intranet on several occasions about the real nappy campaign, and two lunchtime meetings have been held with a group of Worcestershire Midwives and Health Visitors. The Waste Management section of the County Council website carries information and further contacts, and a newsletter including a ‘buy and sell’ section for nappies that are no longer required is sent out four times a year free of charge to all interested families. Scheme Monitoring: Quantitatively, the questionnaires are gathered from parents on the trials every three months. This information is added to a database. If members of the public contact the Worcestershire Waste Management Team to enquire they are asked where they heard about real nappies. This information is recorded. Qualitatively, there has been a significant increase in attendance at the Nappuccino Mornings and feedback from parents, Midwives and Health Visitors suggests that gaining information about real nappies is becoming much easier. Achievements: Data is still being collected through questionnaires. When there is sufficient data it will be analysed accordingly. There are currently 216 people on the incentive scheme, which has been limited to certain areas whilst in the trial stages. The local agents in the area have seen an increase in customers; the most active agent has received 250 new customers since the start of the campaign. Benefits of the Scheme: New Customers: The Lollipop agents have received new customers as a result of the campaign. Social Benefits: Nappuccino Mornings provide a friendly and welcoming meeting place for new and experienced parents. Some parents attend these on a regular basis to meet with other parents that they have met through the Nappuccinos. Anti Poverty gains: The local Sure Start team are looking into purchasing their own loan packs to help their families further. They have also developed links with the local Credit Union to help families with their initial purchases. Popularity with local community: Due to the success of the original Nappuccino Morning four further monthly venues have been started to meet the demand from families. Environmental Impact: Parents can sell their nappies to another parent if they are not happy with their choice. This can be done through a ‘Buy and Sell’ section of a real nappy newsletter that is produced quarterly by the Lollipop Agents. Future Plans: · Implementation of real nappies on the Postnatal ward and Neonatal ward in hospitals. · Employment of an additional resource to help promote the campaign in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. · Extend the availability of the incentive schemes. |
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