Kirkby community groups benefit from £50,000 neighbourhood fund

The Fund is part of the agreement with Merseyside Energy Recovery Limited (MERL), who treat Merseyside and Halton’s household residual waste, and with its partner SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, operates the Knowsley Rail Transfer Loading Station in Knowsley.

Each year, the Fund provides to apply for funding to support a range of community, health, wellbeing and environmental projects. This year £52,100 was awarded to ten local good causes. These are:

1. Diversity Amateur Boxing for Girls, who were awarded £2,500 for a new boxing ring
2. Centre 63, who were awarded £11,000 to support their ‘Remake Yourself’ project which supports young women rebuild their confidence and self-esteem following traumatic life experiences
3. The Eco Therapy Garden, who were awarded £3,000 to support cognitive, behavioural and eco-therapy programmes.
4. CELLS Project CIC, who were awarded £8,000 for mentoring for local people on the subjects of inclusion, wellbeing and aspiration.
5. Care Merseyside, who were awarded £4,500 for a ‘Phone a Friend – You’ll Never Walk Alone’ social prescribing project for people suffering with anxiety, loneliness, depression and ill health.
6. Valencia Morris Dancers, who were awarded £7,000 for new equipment.
7. Tailored Advice Services in Communities CIC, who were awarded £9,000 for Northwood Digital Hub, a project which aims to provide courses for residents who are digitally excluded.
8. Music Sweet Music, who were awarded £2,000 for Saint Martins Cabbage Patch Garden.
9. Parochial Church Council of Kirkby, who were awarded £2,100 for a bereavement support group.
10. People Activities Community Achievement, who were awarded £3,000 for a health and fitness project.

The Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund will invest over £1million into the local community throughout the 25-year contract with Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA). Both MERL and SUEZ recognise that they have an important part to play in the local community and this Fund helps to fulfil their responsibilities as a good neighbour.

This year’s Celebration Event which is normally is held for successful applicants was cancelled due to the restrictions around the pandemic. However a special celebration video will be released on the SUEZ UK Facebook and Twitter feeds on Christmas Eve. ,

SUEZ’s Regional Manager Ed Best said: “After a long and difficult year, SUEZ is thrilled to be spreading some festive cheer in and around Kirkby! Local community groups have worked incredibly hard this year, with many people relying on them more than ever. We received so many worthy applications and, whilst it was difficult to decide who to award funding to, we are delighted that so many great causes were successful.”

Cllr Tony Concepcion, MRWA Chairperson said: “The Authority is once again so pleased that MERL & SUEZ UK continue to support the Kirkby community through the Neighbourhood Fund. Community groups and local organisations have been through a rough time this year, and financial resources like this are very welcome. We are looking forward to working with MERL and SUEZ on next year’s Fund, and we hope that 2021 brings more opportunities to support health and wellbeing across the local area.”

Working on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, SUEZ puts Merseyside and Halton’s residual household waste to good use by using it to create sustainable electricity. Waste arrives at the Knowsley Rail Transfer Loading Station where it is loaded onto rail containers and taken to the Wilton energy-from-waste facility in Teesside, where it is used to generate enough electricity to power more than 63,000 homes.

Normally, local community and residents’ groups can explore the journey of Merseyside and Halton’s residual household waste at the visitor centre at the Rail Loading Transfer Station in Kirkby. Owing to the coronavirus pandemic visits are temporarily suspended, however you can register your interest for when visits and tours re-start and find out more about the journey of waste through the website: www.suezmerseyside.co.uk.