Burnham & Weston Energy Sunshine Fund[ed], SEE Monster inspired, events get underway this week. Find out more and book your place:
A community group in Weston-super-Mare has won a grant from the local Burnham & Weston Energy Sunshine Fund to host a series of environmental events on the run-up to SEE MONSTER opening and as part of its legacy after it leaves.
SEE MONSTER, a decommissioned North Sea Platform, is currently being transformed into a large-scale public art installation at the Tropicana. Established to create a legacy from SEE MONSTER for the town, one of the community-led Think Tank groups has successfully secured a grant for £7,650 from the Burnham & Weston Energy Sunshine Fund. This will enable them to deliver events and explore the potential for new start-ups and collaborative projects that will benefit both the local community and the environment.
Local environmental champion and lead for the Environment Think Tank, Debbie Apted, said: “The enthusiasm and ideas that came through from the local community for our proposal to the Sunshine Fund have been inspiring. Securing the support of Weston Chamber’s Cleaner Coastlines project panel was also key to our funding win as we look forward to collaborating with the groups and individuals throughout Weston to make these events a huge success and ensure the SEE MONSTER legacy is woven into our area.”
Proposals from the community that will be supported through Burnham & Weston Energy’s grant to the Environmental Think Tank include:
- Precious Plastic
A plastic shredding machine for reusing plastic. The group will look at the potential for this to stimulate a new social enterprise in Weston launching at Faces Café, Station Road in early August. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/preciousplasticsweston.
- 12 x fashion design workshops
These workshops are upskilling local people by utilising found objects and transforming them into new outfits and by exchanging skills. For more information on the workshop date and times see https://cultureweston.org.uk/projects/westonpresents/.
- Static display with audio
Showcasing what a plastic-free low carbon house / office / shop / eatery could look like.
- Environmental film night
A chance for the community to get together to watch a film with an environmental theme and discuss ideas for our own area.
- Environmental business breakfast
To raise awareness of how all businesses can help reduce single-use plastic and carbon emissions
- 6 x plant-based cookery workshops launching 2nd August at The Stable, Wadham Street.
To teach the basics of vegan cookery.
Lynda Wookey, Director of Burnham & Weston Energy, said: “As a not-for-profit community interest company, it is important to us that our Sunshine Fund supports local, community-led, projects that get people involved in making meaningful differences to the environment. So, it’s exciting to see the range of people and community groups determined, as members of the Environmental Think Tank, to work together and get more people involved in the positive and lasting impact they intend to make in Weston. We look forward to seeing the projects come to life as a result of the grant we are thrilled to award them.”
Cllr Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy at North Somerset Council, said: “It’s inspiring to see the work being created from the community Think Tanks. We want to create a legacy from SEE MONSTER that lives well beyond the two months it is with us, and creating long term events with community stakeholders will allow this.”
Community Manager for SEE MONSTER, Becky Walsh, said: “For SEE MONSTER to be part of Weston and not something that was just happening ‘in Weston’ we needed to engage the community. I’m delighted that the Think Tank strategy has given us this result. It is made possible by the amazing Think Tank leads like Debbie. There is more to come from the Think Tanks ideas and I’m so proud of what has been achieved so far.”
SEE MONSTER will be the world’s first and only repurposed North Sea offshore platform and the largest outdoor installation ever seen in Weston-super-Mare, located at the town’s seafront Tropicana site.
Hosting the event supports North Somerset Council’s ten-year placemaking strategy, putting Weston-super-Mare firmly on the map as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
For more information and to get involved in the community Think Tanks, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195080969477347
