Local Green Points, as part of its London Green Points scheme in Bexley, is today calling for charities that are active in South Thamesmead to come forward with projects that will make a real difference to people living in the area.
The London Green Points scheme in Bexley is the first of its kind in the country and is aiming to reduce household waste by encouraging more recycling and re-use. Through the scheme, households will earn Green Points that can be exchanged for eco products and family days out, or donated to local charity projects, as well as benefitting from a wide range of special offers provided by local retailers.
Research carried out recently in the area indicated that people are keen to see local charity projects supported as a result of their recycling efforts, and Local Green Points is today inviting charities that are active in Thamesmead to apply for funds. Legendary broadcaster Neil “Doctor” Fox, host of Magic 105.4’s Breakfast Show, is ‘ambassador’ for the London Green Points scheme, and says, “London Green Points is a great way to raise funds for local community projects and I want to see our scheme supporting projects on the ground that are making a real, tangible difference to people’s lives - so if you’re involved in a charity project in Thamesmead, we want to hear from you”.
Charities have until 18th July to submit a short application form and all applications will be reviewed by a panel of community leaders; the panel will choose the three best projects which will benefit from donations made through the scheme. Graham Simmonds, Partner and Co-founder at Local Green Points, adds, “As chairman of the environmental charity, Trees for Cities, I know how hard it is for charities to get the support they need to do all the amazing things they want to do; we’ve made our application process as simple as possible as I also understand how time consuming it can be trying to raise much needed funds.”
The London Green Points scheme is due to go live in September in Bexley where Local Green Points has teamed up with the London Borough of Bexley and Gallions Housing Association. The scheme will start with 2,000 homes in Thamesmead followed by a further 13,000 homes across the borough within two years. These first phases will focus on flats and the Borough has been awarded a grant from the London Waste and Recycling Board’s Flats Recycling Programme to part-fund the scheme, as well as support through Recycle for London. There are plans to extend the scheme to all 90,000 homes in Bexley in future years if successful.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: ‘I know the good people of London's suburbs are keen to be green and to recycle whatever they can and I'm also aware that it is not always easy to do that. Bexley's London Green Points Scheme is great, offering residents the chance for community investment in return for recycling. I have always been a huge enthusiast for this kind of scheme which revolutionises the way people think about waste and recycling.'
Cllr Gareth Bacon, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said: "Thanks to the efforts of our residents, Bexley is already London's top borough for recycling. We have achieved a 50% recycling rate in each of the last two years but we do not want to rest on our laurels. To continue to be the best we must consistently look to improve and come up with new ways to reach the challenging targets we have set ourselves."
Mandy Doe, Operations Director for Gallions Housing Association and a member of the Community Leaders Panel said; “Community regeneration and creating sustainable neighbourhoods are at the forefront of what we do. At Gallions we’e also keen to see innovative projects come forward that will contribute towards that. This is a great way to raise awareness for local charitable projects as well as helping to raise funds. I hope the local community in Thamesmead really gets behind the initiative.”
Charities that are active in Thamesmead, and community groups in partnership with a registered charity, who have a project that needs support should email p.roberts@localgreenpoints.com for an information pack including application form or call Local Green Points on 020 7326 5055 (applications must be returned by 18th July).
