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Notes
Funding:
A small amount of funding to kick start the scheme was from Stockton On
Tees Borough Council’s (SBC) waste
management budgets.
£1000 was also secured from the “INTERREG 111B European Project”
that the council are working on called “Making
Waste Work” to start “Nappuccinos” and the promotion
to subsidise 20 trial nappy packs and to print leaflets, posters etc.
Aims:
To promote, educate, and demonstrate the environmental impact and savings
of using cloth nappies.
Scheme History:
The group has been together since 2003, and has promoted real nappies
through speaking to groups, holding stalls at
markets and fetes, and by organizing a full week of events during Real
Nappy Week.
Scheme:
The Users Group has part (50%) subsidised the cost of 20 trial nappy buckets.
These buckets are full of different types of
nappies, grips, liners etc. The buckets sold very quickly through the
local Environment Centre and it is something that the
Group would like to do again as it made it more cost effective and accessible
to the residents of Stockton On Tees.
The scheme is run by three volunteers (who are real nappy users and who
won the council’s 2004 award for recycling
champions), and Brian Simpson (SBC). Meetings are held once a month at
the Sure Start offices to plan how to keep
moving the scheme forward.
Promotion:
The scheme is marketed and promoted through all the usual outlets such
as libraries, doctor’s surgeries, health visitors,
press, internet ( www.stockton.gov.uk ) and also through the local Environment
Centre. Regular information is placed on
the Council’s notice board and on every council employee’s
PC.
Scheme Monitoring:
A questionnaire has been sent to the families who purchased the nappy
bucket packs to get feedback on what they liked,
what they did not like, how much would they pay etc. This feedback will
show what is needed to put in the next packs and
what should be replaced.
Achievements:
20 families are using cloth nappies. There is a lot of interest in the
area from speaking to families and judging by the
amount of leaflets that are taken from stands at events and local information
stalls. Three to four families a week are
requesting real nappy information via local Lollipop agents.
Benefits of the Scheme for partners involved:
Stockton on Tees Borough Council have benefited through residents gaining
information, seeing what is available and
having choice.
SureStart have benefited by their service users being able to look at
the different types of cloth nappies, ask questions,
borrow money through credit unions to purchase nappies and see the long
term savings.
Lollipop have benefited through the follow on sales of cloth nappies to
residents of the borough.
Environmental Impact:
The Lollipop agent attends the Nappuccinos rather than her visiting each
parent’s / carer’s home to show them her range
of nappies available.
All leaflets and posters are produced on recycled paper.
Future Plans:
The future looks very promising as “Nappuccinos” have begun
on the 1st Wednesday of the month in one of the meeting
rooms at the local swimming baths. After the meeting all the children
receive a free swim promoting healthy living.
Promotional material is being revised.
More funding from INTERREG 111B might be available to subsidise 50 more
Nappy Bucket Packs.
The Group also plans to work with a Nappy Laundering Service that is just
setting up in the area.
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