Notes
Funding:
Currently
there is no funding, despite repeated requests, though it is hoped that
this may change soon. So far the network has been run through appeals
to cloth nappy manufacturers and work at home mums asking for samples.
A meeting is due with the Hull and the East Riding Council Councils regarding
funding for a leaflet and poster scheme to run across the two council
areas.
Aims:
To provide parents with all the information required allowing them to
make an informed decision as to what form of nappy they choose to use
on their babies.
To give follow up advice and support, as a baby develops to help ensure
parents continue using washable nappies.
Scheme:
The scheme currently works through parents talking to friends, visiting
parentcraft classes and other locations to demonstrate the ease of using
cloth nappies and the variety of nappies available.
Parents travel the area doing talks where possible or attending shows
to distribute basic information.
There is an Internet-run group (Yahoo group) where members meet and plan
events as well as face-to-face and planning over the telephone. For parents
without Internet access there is a phone line that is manned most of the
time by a member or by an answering machine (this is a shared line with
Happy Nappy Days due to cost). Through this line parents can either request
information to be sent (if someone lives local to them a nappy demonstration
can also be offered) or any questions asked are replied to within 24 hours
where possible.
Scheme History:
The scheme was established in March 2003 when Samantha Pickering decided
that something needed to be done to get attention brought to washable
nappies in the area that she lived as the councils did not appear to be
doing anything productive and when talking to parents she noted a strong
belief that washable nappies just meant terry towelling squares and pins.
The 2003 Real Nappy Week saw a display of nappies in Hull City Library
and Real Nappy Association /WEN nappy mountain posters and other leaflets
passed on to the Council to distribute around all their payment collection
offices.
During 2004 various newspaper releases promoted the Network’s demonstrations
/nappuccinos. There has also been an opportunity to be featured in a television
and a radio broadcast. There is now support (though not financially) from
Sure Start schemes across Hull, which are planned to be developed further.
Appointments have been made to meet both Hull and East Riding Councils
to discuss the washable nappy issue and the possible funding of a specific
leaflet/ booklet campaign in this region. Official named members have
grown to 11 with many more parents and others interested and happy to
consider using washable nappies. Membership to the network is free and
any help is requested, big or small, from ideas to demonstrations.
Promotion:
At the moment promotion of HullRNN is mainly done through word of mouth
and the internet. Recent features include the BBC Look North news programme
and an interview on Radio Humberside.
The main meeting group is Internet based (HullRNN@yahoogroups.com)
and this and local promotion has brought mentions on some local websites
(theBeehive, Ican, Thisisull, Cuddlebabes, Happy Nappy Days) which all
help to spread the word about the changes in washable nappies.
Demonstrations and leaflet/poster displays are run each Real Nappy Week
since the group was established, but once a year promotion of washable
nappies is insufficient so the aim is to get continued newspaper features
and events throughout the year where possible. After events held during
Real Nappy Week 2004 there was a heated debate in the local free press
mentioning local nappy sellers and work at home mums who make nappies
in the area. This nappy debate spilled out into the local community and
members kept reporting back that they had either overheard conversations
about
washable versus disposable nappies or that they had been approached directly
for more information.
Sure Start have encouraged the Network to attend various meetings.
Scheme Monitoring:
Monitoring and evaluation methods will be put in place pending on future
involvement of Hull and East Riding County Councils.
Achievements:
Getting the local councils to listen to the cause and begin talks on helping
the community to become aware of washable nappies has been the most important
achievement to date. Local communities now know that some babies are in
washable nappies that are fun, fashionable and funky, and convenient.
There has been an increase in the number of stores in the area stocking
washable nappies such as larger supermarket chains and Boots to smaller
independent baby goods retailers. The fact that local newspapers featured
the ‘To wash or not’ nappy debate, shows that awareness about
washable nappies has been raised and the aim is to raise it more.
Benefits of the Scheme for partners involved:
Benefits to partners are not clear at this time as many of the partners
have just become involved in the Network. The local councils will benefit
from reduced waste disposal costs.
For parents there are the clear benefits of reduced cost of washable nappies.
For the babies there are the advantages of a healthier product to be in
and also no future dirty nappy mountain to inherit (or at least not one
as large as it could be if things don’t change now).
Environmental Impact:
Nappy samples are re-used from talk to talk and there is a nappy loan
system available for people to try. The Network recommends that nappies
be washed in gloop - an environmentally friendlier homemade wash product.
Where possible recycling is encouraged. (Recycling paper is becoming easier
in the community thanks to council collections). Many meetings and discussions
currently take place over the Internet through free Internet group hosting
sites (www.yahoo.com). This is convenient as it means that parents do
not have to travel to meetings and also reduces paper work.
Future Plans:
To get information about washable nappies established as part of all Antenatal
Classes run in the area.
To develop nappy demonstration kits to be distributed to all midwifery
teams so that each team has easy access to information about cloth nappies
and also has details of where to send interested parents for more help.
To offer a nappy library service to parents whereby they can see (and
eventually get to try) any nappies they would like.
This would also give them details of where to buy the nappies.
To offer discounts from nappy manufacturers if people join the HullRNN.
A regular nappy network social meeting – or nappuccino is being
established. This would be held within one of the Sure Start facilities
and would be open to network members and anyone else wishing to talk about
nappies, find out more, or just generally talk with other parents using
cloth nappies.
Other Information:
HullRNN is growing slowly but is based in an area where there is a desperate
need to do something to reduce waste going to landfill, and economically,
to help parents on low incomes. Despite all the hard work being done the
Network alone cannot get the message across to everyone in this very large
joint council area. If the council has to be split in two to cover the
area it makes it difficult for a small group of parents without external
funding to reach everyone. The Network is open to any suggestions and
help that can be offered.
|
