Seeking Master Composters in Worcestershire

Worcestershire County Council is looking for volunteers to join its team of enthusiastic Master Composters, to promote home composting to the residents of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Master Composter programme works alongside the Council's Waste Prevention Team to encourage more people to compost at home and help those already composting to do so more effectively.

This could be by assisting on a stand at a local event or show, giving a talk, writing magazine articles or providing composting demonstrations.

Full training will be given and volunteers are expected to contribute a minimum of 30 hours per year. Travel expenses are paid and Master Composters enjoy free membership of Garden Organic.

Please contact Chris Atkinson on 01905 768227 or email cnatkinson@worcestershire.gov.uk for more information.

Closing date: 19th February 2010.

Becoming a Master Composter is a great way to meet new people, learn valuable skills, and benefit from being part of a team that makes a difference. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a Master Composter; you don’t need to be a composter already or have any volunteering or community group experience.

Master Composter programmes were established over 10 years ago in the USA and Canada. These programmes have proved to be extremely popular and successful in promoting the benefits of home composting. There are a few other Master Composter programmes in the UK, but they are still a fairly new concept over here. The main aim of the programme is to raise awareness amongst the wider public of the benefits of composting.

As a volunteer you will receiv:

1. training in home composting and related environmental issues (provided by Garden Organic – formerly HDRA the organic organisation)
2. a Master Composter resource pack
3. several day trips, including visits to a composting site and Garden Organic Ryton.

The training takes place over two days and includes the visits and home composting training sessions. Lunch and refreshments will be included and travel expenses paid, you only need to provide your time.

Once the training has been completed, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 30 hours over the following year promoting home composting. Activities will be tailored to your individual skills and could include

1. assisting on Home Composing stands at larger shows around the two counties. e.g. A carnival or a food festival
2. attending school and village fetes in your area, raising awareness of Home Composting
3. giving demonstrations to your next door neighbours
4. giving presentations at your local schools
5. giving a talk to your local gardening club or allotment association
6. writing articles for your local paper, parish magazine or allotment newsletter
7. helping your local school set up a compost corner/nature area
8. helping promote further compost bin sales

Again travel expenses will be paid for voluntary work undertaken and necessary resources will be supplied.

The Master Composter Programme is a partnership between Garden Organic, Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council.

The next training sessions are to be held on Saturday 27th March in Worcester and Sunday 28th March at Ryton Organic Gardens.