Lancashire CRN’s Annual Conference is a day-long event each February which combines expert speakers, case studies and workshops in a welcoming and informal setting. It is a great opportunity to meet people from other groups, gain best practice advice and network.

All About You! - Our Annual Conference for 2012

In 2012, our Annual Conference will be held on 14th February in the Environmental Education Centre in Leyland. This year, our annual conference is All About You!  What better theme for a conference held on Valentine’s Day and designed around the needs and interests of our community sector?

Places are limited so please book here.

Our confirmed agenda includes:

• Lancashire CRN update – Dawn Welham, GRL: A presentation on Lancashire CRN’s achievements across 2011-12, information on renewing your membership from April and asks for feedback on a project with Education Team linking Lancashire CRN members with local schools.
• Transforming Local Infrastructure – Liz Tapner, Selnet: On 2nd February, the Cabinet Office announced that Selnet were successful in bidding for TLI funding. Selnet were the lead bidders for Lancashire and partners in the winning bids for Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, which combine to bring in almost £1.4m into our region. Hear how these wonderful wins will benefit community sector groups across our region.
• Help Direct and You – Lynn Quigley, Help Direct: Help Direct is a support and information service designed to help people get the right practical support, information and advice that they need before a small problem becomes a crisis. Hear more about how this works and how to promote your own services.
• Community Waste Solutions – Dawn Welham & Jayne Kimberley, GRL: Hear more about the dedicated grant stream supporting community waste projects and how to apply.
• Uncomplicating Legislation and Compliance – Sarah Henderson, Environment Agency: Following requests from a number of groups, this presentation will discuss what legislation applies to different waste activities and which permits or exemptions groups should have in place. You can ask for specific advice relating to new, existing or expanding projects too. 
• “Wood Bee Good” Project update – Phill Dewhurst, Offshoots: Our first case study from Offshoots focuses on the Wood Bee Good project which received £15k funding from Lancashire CRN in 2009. Phill will update the Network on how the project has developed and present pictures and items made as part of the project.
• “ReLoved” Project – Louise Chicot, Agapao International: “Agapao” means “I love you unconditionally” and this group focus on helping local people in Lancashire to have a global impact by supporting projects in Uganda and Kenya. The ReLoved project uses items that are no longer needed and directs them to people in need locally and globally. A heart-warming case study to close our morning of presentations.

Following lunch, we are offering a Network first: A Meet the Buyer/Supplier ‘speed date’ networking session.

This is your chance to meet a range of reprocessors, discuss the materials you have and how to get the most from them. This session is primarily aimed towards managers, trustees and board members to network with representatives of reprocessors and other off-takers, to build relationships and discuss opportunities to reduce costs or increase income. Thanks to Envirolink for their support in organising this session.

Reprocessors already confirmed include:   

• Repic: As the largest WEEE producer compliance scheme in the UK, Repic’s WEEE members represent around half the weight of all electrical and electronic products sold in the UK every year. Repic provides compliance solutions to companies all over the UK under the WEEE, Waste Batteries & Accumulators and Packaging Regulations. Repic will discuss compliance solutions through the services they provide in regards to WEEE and batteries and how the community sector can get involved.
• Avanti Environmental Services: Avanti Environmental Services operate a fully equipped plastic recycling facility capable of re-processing all plastic requirements from automotive components through to rigid plastic and films. They will be discussing qualities and quantities required to reprocess plastic waste.Alongside the reprocessors you will be able to meet with the Environment Agency and discuss applying for Community Waste Solutions funding. The networking session is programmed to last until 3.40 to allow for a refreshment break before the AGM.
• EMR (Metals): EMR is a global leader in metal recycling. Their core business is the recycling of scrap metal from a range of sources such as End-of-Life vehicles/consumer products, industry, construction and demolition. This results in sales of recycled commodities of around 10 million tonnes a year. They have extensive ferrous and non-ferrous operations worldwide and produce over 100 grades of high quality recycled materials which are taken to market by our substantial road, rail and shipping network.
• SAICA (Paper/card): SAICA’s recycling division – known as SAICA Natur UK – will manage in excess of 400,000 tonnes of waste paper in the UK per year, when its recycled paper mill in Partington is fully operational. The company will be able to produce paper and packaging from 100% UK recycled materials.

There will be two tours of the Waste Recovery Facility (booking required on the day) and the Education Service's award-winning films on waste reduction, reuse and recycling as part of their Adventures on the Environmental Journey programme for Key Stage 2 students across Lancashire and Blackpool.

Places are limited so please book your place here!

Lancashire CRN's AGM will be held after the conference at 4pm. Members will be sent notifications directly.

This year, our Annual Conference has been kindly sponsored by EMR, supported by Lancashire County and Blackpool Councils and organised by Global Renewables Lancashire.
 

Provide, Prove and Prosper: Our annual conference for 2011!

Lancashire CRN recognises our members' experience, and your passion and commitment to provide the best services to your clients and customers. With an increased pressure to evidence achievements, the Provide, Prove and Prosper conference was designed to support Lancashire CRN members prove achievements and prosper into the future.

The conference featured expert speakers, inspiring case studies, workshop sessions, networking opportunities - all based around evidencing outcomes and promoting achievements. Tours of the waste technology facilities showing the UR-3R Process® in action was provided by members of Global Renewables' Education Team.

Presentations from our speakers have been made available through the Members Area of our website, and for more on our guest speakers, just click on the links below.

• Liz Tapner, Selnet
• Paula Ramsay, Blackpool Council
• Kevin Steel, Red Badger Consultancy
• Yvonne Taylor, Lloyds TSB Grant Foundation
• Paul Wenham, The Mustard Tree (case study)
• Vicki Paffett, Warwickshire County Council (case study)

Past conferences

Each annual conference has a theme, and previous themes have included:

• 2010: Strengthen, Survive & Thrive! The recession-beating conference for 2010
• 2009: Waste – Let’s Make It Our Business
• 2006: Getting Upbeat about Recycling
• 2005: Aim High for 2005