Why have we set up?
The NCWRP was founded in 2003 to help set up and develop a nationwide network of wood recycling social enterprises.
Modelled on the multi award-winning Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project, the aim of these social enterprises is to:
- Save resources by rescuing and re-using "waste" timber that would otherwise be land filled (or at very best “downcycled' into wood chip).
- Create sustainable jobs and training and volunteering opportunities for local people - especially those who might be described as “disadvantaged” and find it difficult to get back to employment.
What do we want to achieve?
The NCWRP aims to see as many of these enterprises set up as possible and we are working hard to “franchise” the opportunity as widely as we can.
With so much perfectly good timber ending up in landfill and so many enthusiastic people available (and keen to work for such a worthwhile cause) we believe that the UK could support around 40 to 50 such enterprises.
How do we work?
Our Founder/Managing Director also founded and ran the Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project, so we know exactly what it is like to set up and operate such an enterprise and we relish taking a practical, very hands-on approach to the support we give. In fact, we are the experts in community wood recycling and can provide the complete “franchise package”; from the very first spark of interest, right through to a successful launch… and beyond… we are here to help.
How are we funded?
The NCWRP is funded by a mixture of grants and earned income. In the financial year 2008–09, we were awarded around £50,000 by WRAP (wrap.org.uk) under their Third Sector Development Programme, which runs for three years. In 2009–10 we received £37,000, and we hope to receive further funding from the fund for 2010–11.
In addition to this “core” funding (contributing to rent, rates, wages, etc), we apply for ad-hoc grants to carry out particular projects – such as upgrading our website, producing an Operations Manual or other one-off stuff. We were recently awarded £10,000 through the Modernisation Fund to develop a bespoke accounts package that each of our “franchisees” can use and research what additional services we can provide them. With so much that we want to achieve, we try to apply to any fund that we feel might be able to help us.
In general, an organisation’s access to core funding diminishes year by year (because funders expect them to become financially sustainable), so an increasing proportion of our income must be “earned” through charging our members for the services we provide or though selling other goods and services to other organisations.
Our big challenge is balancing the need for us to be financially secure with the desire to keep the community wood recycling franchise that we offer as accessible (as cheap) as possible.
At the end of the day our aims are environmental and social – and although we need to survive, we are committed to helping virtually anyone who wants to make a contribution to a more sustainable society and get involved with community wood recycling.... so come on, what are you waiting for?
Annual Accounts
Please find links to our annual accounts for the last five years.
2009/10 accounts
2008/09 accounts
2006/07 accounts
2005/06 accounts
2004/05 accounts
2003/04 accounts
The 08/09 accounts were approved by the director and reported on (without qualification) by the accountants in July 2009.
TOP
