Author: Laura Percy
Brand New Recycling Project!
More MESS & Waste Less
Learn more about:
- Where you can access local recycling facilities and what materials can be recycled on Mull
- Where you can gain support to upcycle waste materials and compost
- How to take part in an island wide competition to divert waste from landfill
- Support for local businesses to tackle waste
The Mull and Iona Community Trust project, More MESS & Waste LESS has been awarded a grant of £55,428* from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund. The project will provide education and practical demonstrations to show that waste materials are a valuable community asset that can provide environmental and economic benefits to the islands. The project will make savings in carbon emissions through diverting waste from landfill for reuse, upcycling and recycling.
*Includes maximum funding of £26,001 from the European Regional Development Fund.
Are you?
- A keen recycler?
- Interested in composting and/or upcycling?
- Concerned about food waste and/or reducing your carbon footprint?
Do you have a few hours to spare?
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
to join the exciting new More MESS, Waste LESS project, co-ordinating our community reduce, reuse, recycling drive!
Activities include:
- Leading or taking part in upcycling workshops with furniture, crafts and other reusable materials.
- Trialling a food waste composter in your garden.
- Helping spread the word about local recycling facilities and what materials can be recycled on Mull.
- Assisting with an island wide competition to encourage more people to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Contact Siân to find out more: sscott@mict.co.uk 01680 81290
Exciting Childcare News
As part of the Mull and Iona Community Trust’s commitment to establish the demand and need for more childcare provision, we are excited to be working with Argyll and Bute Council to offer extended childcare at Tobermory Pre 5 Unit during term time and school holidays. This is part of the Scottish Governments Early Learning and Childcare Trials which will test a variety of models for delivering 1140 hours free childcare.
We are currently in the process of registering our childcare service ‘Mini Muileachs’ and will shortly be recruiting, in time for the trials to start during the 2017 summer holidays, going through to June 2018. Although first priority will be given to those registered for pre 5 at Tobermory from August 2017, children registered at other pre 5 units on Mull, will be able to access additional hours at Tobermory.
Parents of eligible children will shortly receive a letter in the post inviting them to an information evening, hosted by us and Argyll and Bute Council, in Tobermory School on Thursday 27th April at 6.30pm.
New Deputy General Manager
We are very happy to welcome our brand new Deputy General Manager, Dot Stewart, to the team.
“I am delighted to have taken up the new post of Deputy General Manager for Mull and Iona Community Trust. Originally from Livingston, I came to Mull in 2003 to work at the Camas Outdoor Centre. I was meant to stay 6 months, but found it hard to leave and ended up staying 6 years! I’ve lived on Iona since 2009, where I managed the St Columba Hotel and I’m also a member of the Ross of Mull Coastguard Rescue Team. I have been impressed by the variety and success of MICT’s projects over the years and look forward to supporting and developing that in this new role.”
Moray Finch said “At last, having Dot as part of the team will increase our capacity to help deliver the many projects that we have in the pipeline.”
Mull Eagle Watch 2017
Monday 10th March 2017
It’s the start of the new Mull Eagle Watch season tomorrow!
Rachel French will be leading tours at the West Ardhu site (North West Mull Community Woodland Company in Dervaig and Meryl Varty will be at Glen Seilideir leading tours at Tiroran Community Forest.
To book a place on a tour at either hide, please call the Craignure Visitor Information Centre on 01680 812556.
You can keep up with the ranger blog here: www.mulleaglewatch.com/blog
(Image courtesy of Ewan Miles)
New Project & Job Vacancy!
6th March 2017
We’re really pleased to be able to announce a new project thanks to a grant award from the Climate Challenge Fund
We aim to provide education and practical demonstrations to show that waste materials are a valuable community asset that can provide environmental and economic benefits to the islands.
Hopefully, this will involve closed working with the Council to further improve recycling provision on the islands.
We are recruiting for a full time project officer for this project, full details can be found on our vacancies page
It’s also great to see the Iona Renewables Group has also been awarded a grant to help homeowners, tenants and businesses to access energy efficiency surveys and provide a variety of additional support to ensure that any recommended physical improvements to buildings that will reduce energy use do take place.
Moray Finch
Scottish Thistle Awards 2017
17th March 2017
The Mull Eagle Watch team attended the final of the Scottish Thistle Awards in Edinburgh last night having being nominated in the Innovation in Tourism category. There were only 2 wildlife nominations for the whole event, Mull Eaagle Watch and Ecoventures at Cromarty who we sadly lost out too – but it was a great achievement to make it to the Final and fantastic to see a picture of a white tailed eagle on the big screen. What a great end to the year – 2 out of 3 awards along with continuation of our Visit Scotland 5 Star rating, Gold Green Tourism rating. In the words of Meatloaf ‘2 outta 3 ain’t bad’ thank you everyone for your support as ever. News about the 2017 season coming soon.
