Freegle Reps Report 2014-09-30

The Board of Freegle Limited are developing strategy for the future of Freegle. They are working on obtaining a bank account and applying for charitable status. During this transition period the Reps are working alongside the Freegle Board to continue the running of Freegle UK.

GAYL

Edward continues to liaise and met with Steff of GAYL in August to discuss the next steps of our partnership. They plan to meet again in November. Edward produced a newsletter in July http://direct.ilovefreegle.org/enews/1407/enews.html

During this period we have raised £440.89.

Research

Chris Martin has kept us up to date with his research, using Freegle as a case study, on how grassroots organisations and movements are using the web to share resources and reduce the environmental impact of communities. Chris is a Research Fellow in the Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise, The Faculty of Business and Law at the Open University. Duirng the summer Chris presented an overview of his research at the International Social Innovation Conference.

Edward has also spoken to a sociologist who is in the early stages of planning a research project into the experiences and practices of volunteers. http://volunteerexperienceinthedigitalage.wordpress.com/about/.

Mansfield Freegle

We were very sorry to disaffiliate Mansfield Freegle for circumstances that we consider bring Freegle into disrepute.

Fotodocument

We have agreed with Cat’s suggestion that she should spend £1,000 of the ring fenced media donation on sponsoring a ten month One Planet Living photographic exhibition in Brighton.

http://fotodocument.org/foto-commissions/

Freegle will be included in all publicity and online and hard copy materials associated with the project. The funds would be used to enhance the Sustainable Materials and Zero Waste exhibitions and cover costs associated with reusing waste materials (obtained via local group) for the sites where the photos will be shown (Waste House and Emmaus Brighton).

The exhibition has national backing, Arts Council funding, is part of Biennale and will be on the well-promoted tourist trail in Brighton for almost a year. Brighton has 10 million tourists a year it is hoped that tens of thousands will visit the 10 exhibitions around the city.

Reyooz

Cat met with Justin of Reyooz in Birmingham. She plans to meet him again in London with Edward.

Personnel

Alison, Cat, Edward, Jacky, Jane, Richard, Sheila and Tina

We were very sorry to finally say goodbye to Saira as a Rep. We will all miss her and are very grateful for her hard work and commitment during her time as a Rep.

We are very pleased to welcome Andrew Trusty, founder of Trash Nothing, as a Freegle Volunteer and pleased also to hear that Wanda has joined Jacky and Kylie in the Mailbox Team.