Case study, Community Cleans, Impact Posted — 24 January 2024
Working together to create change
Our Communities have been linking up ever since the start of Plastic Free Communities and we continue to see how, through working together, our volunteers can achieve more. Here are some key collaboration moments across the UK, and the difference it’s making to local campaigns..
Plastic Free Scotland Communities
In 2019, two communities in Fife, Dalgety Bay and Dunfermline, started talking. A year later and a group of five Plastic Free Communities formed the Plastic Free Fife network. We saw in 2021 how they joined forces to get action from local government.
In 2023 that spirit of collaboration was given a boost at our SAS Ocean Activist Conference. Scottish communities kicked-started more talks and now have big plans for the future as Plastic Free Scotland Communities Network, covering communities from the Clyde to the Northwest Coast, the Outer Hebrides, the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth.
The group have been campaigning on more clarity around compostable products, following the Scottish ban on expanded polystyrene containers in 2022. They wrote a joint letter to the Scottish Government, outlining the problems. That led to a meeting with officials from Scotland’s Circular Economy ministry, where six Plastic Free Communities attended and made their case.
The meeting showed the strength and power of the movement. We wouldn’t have been able to make such an impactful breakthrough like this without working together. Plastic Free Scotland Communities
Amongst other actions they are also collaborating on a circular “fashion show”, telling a shocking story of plastic pollution, including a choker and necklace made from plastic tampon applicators. This will be held right outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of the first reading of the Circular Economy Bill.
They have found that working together had other benefits too…
We all have different experiences and skills, and by learning from each other we can enhance the quality of what we do in our own communities. We’ve nicked loads of ideas off the other groups we’ve worked with, and hopefully some of them have nicked some ideas off us! Plastic Free Scotland Communities
Cornwall
Our volunteer SAS reps and Plastic Free Communities have also been joining forces to boost their local campaigns.
After working with Plastic Free Hackney and a host of other Communities in London, SAS Rep Jess moved to Cornwall and saw an opportunity to link up with Cornish Communities. She started working with Plastic Free Falmouth, Plastic Free Penryn and Plastic Free Mylor, helping co-ordinate beach cleans, Mass Unwraps, water quality protests and other events.
She forms part of a wider working group of Plastic Free Communities and SAS Reps working together in Cornwall. One key element Jess works on is sharing everyone’s events and news online, to help spread the message across the county.
I’ve found it is very important for SAS reps to join forces with Plastic Free Communities, and by collaborating we will be able to achieve so much more. We are all ocean activists after all.
Telford & Wrekin
Plastic Free Communities begin by working on their 5 step toolkit, and work with their council at a very local level. Some communities decide to link together, and work with their district, borough or county council to achieve the award for a larger area.
Mark Ferguson and Louise Stanway from Telford & Wrekin Council are working on just this. A project to achieve a District level award. With nine communities, and two newly awarded, they’re making great progress.
Telford & Wrekin Council and The British Ironwork Centre also formed a partnership to create a Schools’ Ocean Trail, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution on our ocean and marine life. Together with delivering talks and other outreach events, this has meant the district now has 17 schools signed up to the SAS Plastic Free Schools programme.
By starting small and growing together, we can work collaboratively to put pressure up the chain of command and call for change. An end to plastic pollution in all of our communities.
If you would like to start a Plastic Free Community where you live, check out the information on becoming a Community Leader >> HERE
If you are already a Plastic Free Community, and want to talk to us about linking with other communities, forming or joining a network, then get in touch at Plasticfreecommunities@sas.org.uk
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