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Benefitting business and the environment – Hackney businesses sought to help build a circular economy
5th July 2022
Hackney businesses are being encouraged to get involved in discussions about cutting waste, reusing materials and reducing pollution as part of Council efforts to help rebuild a greener Hackney by creating a circular economy in the borough. The conversations will focus on how a circular economy – in which materials are kept in use for longer by being shared and re-used among different businesses – can both benefit the environment and businesses themselves.This will build on the £600,000 grants issued to support circular economy initiatives through the Hackney Central Impact and Ideas Grant Fund – including a project by Yodomo to connect businesses, makers and communities to find innovative solutions to reuse waste or surplus materials; and a scheme by Batch.Works to remanufacture waste plastic in Hackney using 3D-printing technology.By keeping materials in use to deliver the highest value they can for as long as they can, businesses can save costs by using fewer materials, grow revenue through new services such as repairs or rentals, get ahead of future regulation changes, and strengthen customer relationships with eco-conscious buyers.Hackney businesses are now being asked to complete a short survey about their business and the circular economy, which will help the Council determine how it can enable businesses to become part of the circular economy without having to change their business model. The Council will also use this information to design a future business engagement programme on the circular economy and how to achieve net zero in business operations.The Council will be working with its partner PRD to run workshops with businesses involved in our grant funded circular economy projects in July. In the autumn the Council will roll out the sessions to a wider group of interested Hackney businesses. These workshops will delve into the subject with businesses in a group setting to aid understanding and definition of a circular economy journey.Complete the survey now.Further information: ReLondon, a partnership of the Mayor of London and the London boroughs to improve waste and resource management and transform the city into a leading low carbon circular economy, explains that a “circular economy is one in which stuff is kept in use for as long as possible, delivering the highest value it can, for as long as it can. So rather than making, using and then throwing stuff away (a linear system), a circular economy means looking at each of those stages for new ways of cycling materials and value back into the system - using materials and products again and again, in many different forms.”In 2019, Hackney Council declared a climate emergency and committed to reach net zero emissions by 2040, which means that the Council will not be a net contributor to climate change by 2040. In doing so, we pledged to rebuild a greener Hackney – helping to protect the planet for future generations, and build a borough with cleaner air, healthier lives and better neighbourhoods for all of our residents and businesses.Further details of Hackney businesses receiving Hackney Central Impact and Ideas Funding is available here.
New local service launches to support residents’ sexual health and reduce health inequalities
4th July 2022
A new sexual and reproductive health service aimed at supporting residents from black and other ethnic minority communities launched last week. “Project Community – Good Sexual Health for all in City and Hackney” was launched on 1 July and is delivered by Positive East on behalf of the City of London Corporation and Hackney Council’s Public Health team.The new service is the first to be aimed at supporting and empowering local residents from black and other ethnic minority communities to help look after their sexual and reproductive health.The service offers health promotion, advice and information on a wide range of sexual and reproductive health topics, including ways individuals can protect themselves against HIV and other STIs. Other areas of support covered include contraception (routine and emergency), signposting and supporting referrals to alternative local services such as sexual health clinics. The service will also provide free condoms and lubricant gels, as well as HIV and STI testing and will work across a number of different local settings, including GP surgeries, health centres, markets, clubs and bars, cultural spaces, events, pharmacies, and faith spaces.In addition to these services, Project Community will work with the local community, and ensure that the services it provides are developed in partnership with communities themselves, as well as other local partners - including small voluntary sector organisations. This will be achieved through training up sexual health Community Champions and peer mentors, offering training sessions to faith and other community leaders, running a grants scheme for small organisations to bid from to undertake projects, and digital and social media engagement. And there are also plans for the service to recruit volunteers from these local communities, who will be able to provide their own insight and experiences to shape the delivery of the service.More information about Project Community contact Euriza at euriza.mata@positiveeast.org.uk or visit: https://www.positiveeast.org.uk/hccommunity/