126,000 tonnes of pumpkin waste are heading to landfill this year

WITH parents tearing their hair out, many have turned to Halloween pumpkin carving to entertain the little ones; however next week the discarded pumpkin carcasses will be heading for landfill, all 12.6 million of them. Charlotte Green from commercial waste firm TradeWaste.Co.UK explains:- "The waste produced at Halloween is incredible, and many people will want to get rid of the stinky rotting pumpkin carcasses fairly quickly after what might turn out to be a very wet weekend."

Sadly, most pumpkin carcasses end up in normal general waste bins collected by Councils across the country, as recycling facilities for food are not generally available for householders.

There is another option though; turning the insides of a carved pumpkin into soup is extremely easy or roasting to make a delicious and sweet vegetable side like sweet potato. Other ideas include:- pie, bread, cookies, spiced lattes; even burgers! Using the flesh before it is discarded is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of Halloween.

"We are promoting as many alternatives to simply binning both the inside and outside of a pumpkin this year; the flesh inside makes a lovely warming soup and can also be roasted; it's dead easy..." explains Green.

Alternative options are also available for using the carcass once the excitement of Halloween has died down include composting and making bug houses. 1 of the most unique methods was smashing the old pumpkin to pieces (like a Mexican Pinata) and then combining with leaves to form a compost which would be ready for Spring planting. Where available the rotting pumpkins can be processed and the methane they release when decomposing captured to power trucks and buses.

Charlotte concludes :- "We need to think about how to reduce the amount of waste put in the ground, and welcome any new ideas on how to recycle pumpkins; time to get the kids involved!"

Did you know?

► A standard superMarket pumpkin will weigh on average 10kg.

► 12.6 million pumpkins will end up being discarded next week.

► This means 126,000 tonnes of pumpkin waste is heading to landfill.

4,500 new Work Coaches to join the frontline to help Britain build back better

THOUSANDS of new recruits are now lined up to join Jobcentres across the UK and fuel the nation's Plan for Jobs. 4,500 new Work Coaches for the Jobcentre frontline will be trained up to use their expertise to help jobseekers across the country get the support they need to find a job, retrain or gain vital practical experience. The 4,500 new recruits who have already accepted jobs will be joined by thousands more by March next year; meeting the Government's pledge to double the number of Work Coaches by the end of the financial year. Boosting these numbers will mean that jobseekers have access to key personal support tailored to them whether they're starting out, at the peak of their career or looking to leave a struggling sector. The next round of Work Coach recruitment will kick off mid-November with thousands of new vacancies available.

Mims Davies MP, Employment Minister said:- "Work Coaches are at the forefront of our national recovery and will be there for jobseekers striving to get back on their feet. From setting young people up with their 1st jobs to helping others retrain and find fresh opportunity in new industries, their support will help drive Britain's recovery."

Recent recruit and new Work Coach Hasni Pazeer said:- "I know that I am making a really positive difference in people's lives and it's a great feeling to help get people back on their feet. I meet new people every day from all kinds of backgrounds and it's so rewarding to see customers flourish through the support we provide them."

Along with helping people improve their CV, interview chances and job search, Work Coaches also help arrange more structured support including:-

► The ₤2 billion Kickstart scheme which puts young people receiving benefits 1st in line for new, high quality, 6 month roles provided by employers from all sectors. The placements give them a wage for the duration and the chance to build their experience and professional networks.

► The ₤238 million JETS programme targeting those out of work for three months with a range of help from expert providers, including specialist advice on how people can move into growing sectors.

► Increased support for 40,000 jobseekers of all ages through the Sector based Work Academy Programme, which received a ₤17 million funding boost this summer and will help people learn new skills through a mixture of work experience and training.

UK Parliament Week celebrates its 10th year with over 1100 events taking place across the North West

FROM 1 November to 7 November 2020, hundreds of people from across the North West will hold more than 1100 activities to celebrate the tenth Anniversary of UK Parliament Week 2020.  UK Parliament Week is an annual festival that engages people from across the UK with their UK Parliament, exploring what it means to them and empowering them to get involved.  2019 was the biggest event yet, with over 1.2 million people taking part. Activities took place in every one of the 650 constituencies across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in 47 other countries around the world.  For this year's UK Parliament Week, the focus is on the next 10 years, thinking about what issues are important to you and how you can work with UK Parliament to bring about change.  Community groups, local organisations and Schools across the North West will run UK Parliament Week activities designed to appeal to their communities. Over 8,000 activities have already been signed up across the country, including with official partners such as Amnesty International, Girlguiding UK, Just Like Us (Schools Diversity Week), The Shaw Trust and many more. Activities include debating issues, holding votes and campaigning for change; all devised to help people across the UK learn more about Parliament and take an active role in their democracy. 

MPs and members of the House of Lords will be supporting UK Parliament Week activities across the Region and with affiliated organisations, providing the public with the opportunity to engage with key decision makers at the centre of British politics.  UK Parliament Week will be launching on Sunday, 1 November 2020 with Make Your Mark, UK Youth Parliament's annual ballot of young people. The nation wide ballot gives young people aged 11 to 18 the opportunity to shortlist the topics they feel are the most important issues facing young people across the UK. Young people's views will be gathered as part of a month long campaign delivered by the British Youth Council in partnership with UK Parliament.  Also launching during UK Parliament Week are the annual Your UK Parliament Awards. Nominations will open to celebrate the amazing work of people taking action to connect their community with the UK Parliament and democracy.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:- "In my view, you can't start early enough to get involved in democracy, and if you want to make things happen, you have to be a part of it. There is no better time than to start now, and UK Parliament Week is a great platform on which to talk about the things that are important to you. Let's celebrate its 10th Anniversary in style, by encouraging as many community groups, organisations and Schools to join in; and let's see how we as politicians can help you make changes that are relevant in the decade to come."

The Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, said:- "This 10th Anniversary of UK Parliament Week is a brilliant opportunity to experience Parliament in action. I'd encourage community groups and Schools to get involved in any way you can; hold a debate, write to a member of the Lords or Commons, invite them to talk to you, even if this has to be virtually; be part of the conversation about the next ten years for our country. Our communities and young people are always a source of inspiration and ideas. I, for one, want to hear what they have to say."

Gary Hart, UK Parliament Outreach Officer for the North West said:-"Despite these challenging times, a huge number of Schools, community groups and other organisations across the Region are taking part in UK Parliament Week this year, with online events available for many. It's important that a wide range of voices can continue to be heard at Westminster and UK Parliament Week is a fantastic time to start thinking about how people in the North West can do just that; from engaging with MPs and Members of the House of Lords, to creating petitions, giving evidence and more."

₤600,000 to address critical shortage of blood and organ donors amongst Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic communities

NEW funding has just been announced as part of the Government's commitment to tackle health inequalities. The funding aims to address the shortage of organs for those waiting for a transplant from all BAME backgrounds, and the lack of Black blood donors whose blood is used to treat conditions like Sickle Cell Disease.

The Community Investment Scheme run by NHS Blood and Transplant, responsible for blood and organ donation, will fund community and/or faith/belief organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change.

Having previously focussed solely on promoting organ donation after death, in the scheme's 3rd year NHS Blood and Transplant is now looking for applications that will engage diverse communities on the issue of blood donation too.

The funding available through the scheme has increased to reflect this, with an estimated total of ₤600,000 available.

Organisations will be able to apply for 1 of 3 funding bands:-

► Funds up to ₤2,499.

► Funds between ₤2,500 - ₤10,000.

► Funds between ₤10,001 and ₤20,000.

This year, as part of the scheme, NHS Blood and Transplant are also launching the Community Engagement Leads initiative. This will work in conjunction with key community based organisations across England to create grassroot networks to promote organ and blood donation.

Since its launch in 2018, the Community Investment Scheme has supported 43 organisations to deliver 50 community led projects. With around 4,000 people engaging in conversation or taking away a leaflet or information and 8,000 attended a talk or workshop.

Now more than ever, the impact of Covid19 is making innovative approaches to community engagement essential. NHS Blood and Transplant are requesting that applicants demonstrate consideration of the current uncertainty around Covid19. Applications focused on a digital delivery are encouraged, while digital contingency planning will be expected for any face to face work.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:- "This new funding will help organisations carry out vital work within local BAME communities by opening up and informing the conversation about organ and blood donation. Often a person's best donor match will share their ethnicity, but too many donation opportunities are missed because families aren't discussing the subject. We know when it comes to organ donation, these conversations save lives, which is why it is so important to help individuals make an informed decision and talk about it with their families."

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant's annual report into organ donation and transplantation in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, reveal promising increases in consent rates for Black, Asian and minority ethnic donors and an increase in those from BAME backgrounds being eligible to donate. However, there remains a stark imbalance between the numbers of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people donating and those patients in need of a lifesaving transplant.

As of October 2020 1,408 people from BAME backgrounds are actively waiting for a transplant, almost ⅓ of all patients waiting in total. Family refusal continues to be the biggest obstacle to organ donation amongst the communities. Around ½ as many BAME families approached about organ donation agree to go ahead, this is significantly lower compared to families from other backgrounds.

There is hope that the introduction of Max and Keira's Law; the new law relating to organ and tissue donation in England; which came into effect on 20 May 2020, will lead to an increase in the number of donors of all ethnicities. However, families will still be consulted before donation goes ahead so it remains essential to raise awareness, challenge misinformation and encourage those supportive of organ donation to talk with their families.

Additionally, this Black History Month NHS Blood and Transplant is opening up the scheme to fund organisations to encourage blood donation, specifically amongst people from Black African and/or Black Caribbean communities.

Sickle Cell Disease is currently the fastest growing genetic disorder in both the UK and the wider world. People from Black African or Black Caribbean backgrounds are most likely to have this condition which can often require frequent, life saving blood transfusions. For those reliant on regular transfusions, it is essential that they receive blood matched as closely as possible to their own. A match is most likely to come from a donor of the same ethnicity, yet currently only 1.5% of donors in England are Black.

NHS Blood and Transplant is keen to work with trusted voices and organisations who can help address barriers, normalise blood donation and drive behaviour change within Black African and Black Caribbean communities.

Altaf Kazi, Head of Faith and Belief Engagement, at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:- "We are delighted that this year we saw an increase in people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds saying yes to organ donation when approached. This shows great progress, however overall BAME donor numbers are still very low. With people from BAME communities more likely to need a transplant, and the best chance of a match often coming from a donor of the same ethnicity, there is still a need for greater awareness and understanding. Through the Community Investment Scheme we have seen 1st hand the abilities of trusted individuals and community groups to prompt conversation, tackle misinformation, educate and offer reassurance around organ donation. We are now pleased to be able open up the scheme to encourage blood donation too. More and more Black people are donating blood. However, donation levels are still low and we still need more black blood donors to help seriously ill patients. We know that when people understand that they can save lives by donating blood, and that their blood is needed, they are motivated to make that 1st appointment and go on to become regular blood donors. We are asking more people from BAME communities to find out about both blood and organ donation and help us to address the health inequalities that many members of these communities may face. By giving your support you can help save lives."

More information about the Community Investment Scheme and details of how to apply can be found online or by contacting:- Community.Funding@NHSBT.NHS.UK.  Applications should be submitted by 5pm on 2 December 2020. Projects will need to be completed by 1 October 2022.

The Community Investment Scheme is part of a Government funded campaign led by NHS Blood and Transplant with support from the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA) to address the urgent need for Black, Asian and minority ethnic donors.