PRESS RELEASE

Feb 15 2005

CRN/AN/PR53

To be released immediately

LIFEBOATS FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY

Members of the community recycling sector are being introduced to a different way of thinking about funding recycling enterprises, by moving away from grant reliance into becoming self sustainable and grant independent businesses.

Community development finance initiatives (CDFIs) can provide capital and support to enable individuals and organisations to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged communities or under-served markets.

At an event in London next week1, organised by the Community Recycling Network UK, community sector organisations will hear from projects that have benefited from CDFIs.

Mal Williams, Co-ordinator of Cylch will talk about how community development finance can be used to make community recycling grant independent. He says: "The CDFI is the most significant development for the social enterprise and recycling sector in the last ten years.

"It has been designed to enable social and recycling enterprises to finance their own agendas rather than at the behest of grant-making bodies whose agendas are different."

Claire Caffrey, Capacity Building Manager for the Community Development Finance Association (CDFA), will describe the work of the association and the institutions it represents.

Annie Barker of Energywise in Liverpool will present a case study illustrating how financing from the Charity Bank has helped the business development of the community recycling organisation.

Bruce Wood, Enterprise and Loans Manager for London Rebuilding Society (LRS), will talk about how the LRS provides financial support and advice to social and ethical enterprises, voluntary organisations, charities and community groups across London.

Other speakers will tell delegates about Triodos Bank, the eQuip Residual Value Guarantee scheme introduced by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) Fund.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

1. Lifeboats For The Social Economy? Funding Recycling in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - Wednesday, February 23, 2005; 10.30am-3.15pm; Parliament Chamber, Middle Temple, London EC4Y 9AT. This is sold out but speaker presentations and information about community development finance will be available following the event.

The Community Recycling Network UK is a national umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK's growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK and offer separated kerbside recycling collections to two million households - eight per cent of the UK population.

The Community Recycling Network UK is based at Trelawney House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: 0117 942 0142. The CRN UK website is www.crn.org.uk.

For all media enquiries please contact: Andy Nelmes, CRN UK Press Officer, 0117 908 0415 or 07949 626119, andyn@crn.org.uk