Llanelli-based charity Foothold Cymru is celebrating after being awarded a share of £500,000 to run an innovative eco project to help tackle electronic waste and to support devices being used again and again.
Foothold Cymry has received a £42,000 grant from the Time After Time fund, created by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub to support environmental projects across the country.
Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub established the Time After Time fund last year in response to the growing environmental impact of e-waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world – with the UK producing more electrical waste per person than any other country in the world (except for Norway)1.
Foothold Cymru’s Bright Sparks project was selected as one of 10 national winners by a panel of sustainability experts to tackle electronic waste and support digital inclusion.
Bright Sparks aims to reduce e-waste across Carmarthenshire through the creation of an e-waste hub and a series of pop-up events to repair and recycle tech such as smartphones and laptops. The project will also help young people to build skills to increase their employability.
Operating from a workshop situated in Stebonheath, Llanelli, a group of young people will learn how to mend and repurpose small electrical devices. With the support of Foothold Cymru Staff, this project will provide young people with invaluable skills for their future and offer the community an alternative to discarding old electricals in landfill.
Throughout the year, the youngsters will host a series of pop-up events taking place at various locations in and around Llanelli, ensuring the whole community has the opportunity to get their broken items repaired or can purchase refurbished goods. The first workshop will take place this Thursday, 13 July.
Mike Theodoulou, Chief Executive of Foothold Cymru said: “Bright Sparks allows us to breathe new life into old phones and tablets, reducing waste and offering the community access to low-cost recycled tech. It also means we can train young people to repair the e-waste giving them valuable skills and experience which will broaden their horizons and increase their confidence.’
Gavin Ellis, Co-founder of Hubbub said: “E-waste is a pressing environmental issue so this funding is very welcome and enables us to support a range of initiatives that will make a real difference. We are particularly delighted that a number of the winning projects aim to engage with people aged 16-24 who are not only heavy users of electrical items but are key to helping tackle this issue in the future. We are thrilled to award Foothold Cymru with their funding and look forward to seeing what they achieve.”
Time After Time fund 2023
Following the success of last year’s initiative, Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub are launching the 2023 Time After Time fund with a further £500,000 available for community groups, charities and social enterprises to apply for grants to run projects that reduce e-waste and support digital inclusion.
Grants between £25,000 and up to £100,000 are available for projects which help recycle and rehome unwanted tech such as smartphones and laptops with people at risk of digital exclusion and unable to get online.
Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “With the UK responsible for a staggering amount of tech ending up in landfill, and more than 19 million unused smartphones and laptops gathering dust in homes and garages across the country, Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s Time After Time 2023 fund is focused on cutting e-waste, and supporting digital inclusion, by putting unused devices in the hands of people who need them.
“We encourage groups, charities and social enterprises across Wales to apply for a grant of up to £100,000 so we can fund innovative projects which help to protect the planet.”
