October’s Resource Thoughts – 2026

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 11th November 7pm using Google Meet – Please contact simongibbon@casav.uk for further details.

Actions/future activities and short notes below:

Actions / Future Activities

  • Kate: experiment with targeted Facebook posts to attract specific repairs to our repair cafes.
  • Kate: collect and share environmental directories from the World’s On Fire event.
  • Simon/Wendy: wipe old Windows computer for reuse.

Previous Actions & Outcomes

Completed Actions

  • Kate: Coordinated with Helen Hornby to launch Halloween costume swaps in Stokesley and Great Ayton libraries.
  • Kate: Visited Common Ground Ecohub in Norton to advise on establishing a repair café.
  • Kate: Attended the green burials workshop led by Dead Good Sisters at Common Ground Ecohub.
  • Kate: Modelled in NEST’s ethical and sustainable fashion show.
  • Robert: Finalised the monthly newspaper climate column on government warnings regarding a Super El Niño.
  • Kate: Added event and ticket details for World’s On Fire to the October group

Pending / Underway Actions

  • Simon: Provide feedback to the Bilsdale Agricultural Show Committee regarding sustainability improvements.
  • Wendy: Share feedback regarding the Bilsdale Show’s new agri-environmental class at the upcoming North Yorkshire Moors Association (NYMA) AGM.
  • Kate: Deliver mini insect hotel crafting activities to Carlton and Faceby School prior to half-term.
  • Robert: Distribute complimentary copies of Green Hush across local libraries during Green Libraries Week.
  • Kate: Present proposals for seasonal plant-based cooking workshops at Swainby Village Hall to the Food Group.
  • Michelle: Facilitate Green Library Week activities (planters, seed hubs, seeded bookmarks, recycling games).
  • Michelle: Partner with local Fire and Council services on battery, vape, and electrical disposal safety campaigns.
  • Michelle: Distribute “RStuff” resource packs to parish councils and charity shops for independent costume exchanges.
  • Michelle: Coordinate WRAP Recycle Week mascot (“Deo”) promotional appearances in Richmond and Stokesley.
  • Michelle: Consult with organisers regarding commercial recycling bins for future agricultural shows.
  • Joy / Jenny: Liaise with contacts regarding running beeswax wrap crafting workshops.

Updates

Kate

  • Halloween Switch: The costume exchange initiative set up with Helen Hornby (Great Ayton) is underway across Stokesley and Great Ayton libraries. Over 70 outfits were rehomed last year, and drop-offs this year already include multiple bags of children’s and adult costumes. The scheme operates as an informal drop-off/pick-up service aimed at reducing unnecessary textile consumption.
  • ARC (Stockton) – World’s On Fire & Climate Marketplace: Kate is performing in World’s On Fire, an eco-theatre production exploring climate action groups, running on a pay-what-you-wish basis. A Climate Marketplace is scheduled for Thursday 15th from 12:00 pm ahead of the 1:00 pm matinee to connect regional groups and compile an environmental directory. Kate offered to collect copies of the directory for group members. Evening performances run on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th at 7:00 pm. Book tickets here – https://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/worlds-on-fire/
  • ARC Culture Kitchen Food Rescue / Climate Café: Operates Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday lunchtimes, transforming surplus supermarket food that would otherwise go to waste into pay-what-you-wish meals. https://arconline.co.uk/culture-kitchen/
  • Common Ground Ecohub, Norton: Ruth Watson has repurposed the Friends Meeting House on Norton Green into an ecohub hosting daily community sessions, a community pantry, clothes swaps, and an “Unplugged” after-school space offering non-screen activities like board games and Scalextric. Kate shared repair café setup resources with Ruth. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590644279739
  • Sustainable Funerals Workshop: Kate attended a course at the Norton Ecohub delivered by Dead Good Sisters, an advisory service covering low-impact, sustainable, and personalised burials across the North East and North West. The workshop explored the ecological impacts of conventional cremation and embalming, featuring participation from palliative care patients planning end-of-life choices. https://www.deadgood.org/aboutus
  • Potto Organic Barn (Potto Grange Farm): Marian Rogers has launched an organic produce outlet on the back road between Potto and Hutton Rudby. Customers can order flexible vegetable boxes on Tuesdays for Thursday/Friday collection, featuring local produce, local organic dairy products (butter and cheeses), and jarred/bottled goods, with future plans for refillable, packaging-free staples. https://www.bigbarn.co.uk/producer/northallerton/potto-grange-organics-16051 – Potto Grange, Potto, North Yorkshire, DL6 3HH – 01642 700 646

Wendy

  • Repair Café Cover: Wendy’s daughter daughter Jenny did a fantastic job standing in for her at the previous repair café while Wendy was away. Simon commended Jenny’s enthusiastic contribution.
  • Falkirk Wheel Visit: Wendy and David recounted their holiday visit to the Falkirk Wheel, describing the rotating gondola canal boat lift and cruising through a tunnel under the Antonine Wall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucg1O-5jsnM

Jenny

  • Observations from Dubai: Recent family visit, saw significant environmental challenges including extreme heat, lack of natural flora/fauna, absent municipal recycling, and excessive single-use plastic from motorbike deliveries. A second-hand bookshop offering a 50% buy-back scheme and a monthly children’s clothing exchange were noted as rare exceptions.
  • Methane Policy Engagement: Son Sam travelled to Warsaw to consult with the Polish government regarding methane emissions reduction strategies.

Simon

  • COP31 & Climate Lobbying: Discussion covered the upcoming COP31 summit in Turkey and the European Union’s proposed emissions reduction package. Simon stressed the need to maintain pressure on the UK government via MPs and press correspondence, noting concerns about potential domestic compromises (e.g., heat pump incentives and new oil licences) alongside positive foreign aid discussions. https://cop31.tr/
  • Super El Niño & Global Events: Simon noted escalating global weather extremes linked to El Niño (NEB – El Nino: What could it mean for the UK?), referencing a sixfold increase in water flow at Iguazu Falls and catastrophic flood-induced bridge collapses in Nepal.

Matters Arising & Core Initiatives

  • Repair Cafés Review:
    • The Swainby event (19 September) coincided with the Stokesley Show, resulting in lower footfall, while the Stokesley session (10 October) similarly saw fewer small tool-sharpening jobs. Both sessions saw consistent demand for electrical and sewing repairs.
    • Kate is considering targeted publicity to raise awareness of specific repairable items.
    • Next Repair Café: Scheduled for 21 November at Swainby Village Hall.
  • WEEE & Computer Reuse Scheme:
    • The group collected 10 computers and 4–5 mobile phones for refurbishing. Simon factory-reset eight laptops/PCs over the weekend for redistribution via Furbd, Reboot, or community facilities (including one allocated to Swainby Village Hall).
    • Any computers that are not being used can be wiped for reuse.
    • Windows 10 computer that cannot take Windows 11 are still usable as Windows 10 security support remains active until autumn next year.
    • Slow Windows computers can be reset to clean factory state for a bit of speed improvement or made nippy by replacing Windows with Linux
  • Wrap Up Teesside (Warm Coat Collection):
    • The group collected approximately 50 winter coats/jackets alongside two bags of hats, scarves, and gloves.
    • Mark Lewis and Peter Chandler (Rotary) collected the items for sorting and redistribution to refugees and vulnerable families ahead of the official collection launch on 17 October.
    • https://wrapupuk.org/wrap-up-area/middlesbrough/

External Meetings

  • North East Fishing Collective Public Meeting:
    • Date & Location: Friday, 16 October in Saltburn.
    • Details: Simon (Environmental Lead for NEFC) will address the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and PD Ports’ re-submitted Tees dredging disposal licence application. The session will brief the public on the ecological implications of returning dredged sediment/toxins into marine habitats and how to file formal representations.
    • https://www.northeastfc.uk/261016_mla_20226_00358_public_meeting
  • Boro Donut / Global Doughnut Days:

Next Meeting

  • Date & Time: Wednesday, 11 November, 19:00 – 21:00
  • Format: Google MeetMe – email SimonGibbon@casav.uk for details.
  • (Note: Moved from Tuesday 10 November to Wednesday 11 November due to availability).