I am raising funds to help finance events to raise awareness of the importance of plastic reduction, especially within my home town Henley on Thames. I believe starting where we can, and if we manage to make a difference in Henley, then perhaps we can be an example to the rest of the UK.

So far I have been self funding the campaign which I call Henley Plastic Reduction. In February 2017 I bought the rights to show publicly the film documentary ‘Bag It’ with the aim to educate as many people as possible on the importance of plastic reduction. I continue to show the film as often as possible and it is always recieved with great interest and excitement, often with people responding by saying that they have learnt something which has led to plastic reduction in their lives in some way. The licence cost me personally over £300 and there is usually a room hire fee and costs to cover. In the past I have sometimes passed a bucket around for donations towards costs but I have never charged people, and my plan is to show ‘Bag It‘ in as many colleges & schools & public places and give the chance to as many people as possible to watch this fantastic and educational documentary.

In August 2017 I bought the licence for the campaign ‘Refill Henley‘ - it is a campaign that myself and Councillor Sarah Miller have subsequently rolled out in Henley to reduce plastic waste from people buying plastic water bottles. The licence & material for ‘Refill Henley‘ have cost me personally over £300. The campaign has so far been a great success, even inspiring our district council SODC to look at rolling it out throughout the rest of the county.

This August 2018, I will be putting on an exhibition at the River and Rowing museum in Henley on Thames on the topic of plastic reduction. This event will again be self funded - and with help from Councillor Sarah Miller and some other very passionate locals, we will put on an educational exhibition involving local schools, local businesses & local green heroes - which will be open for all to see. The exhibition will take place in the Communal Space Gallery and will be held for just under a month from the 9th August to the 2nd September. I expect the cost of curating this exhibition (buying materials, printing photographs & information) to be between £200-£300.

For the future, I very much hope to continue putting on educational events on this heartfelt topic, hoping to make a difference regardless how big or small. For example, I have recently organised for SODC to come to Henley on Thames on the 8th March to discuss and answer any questions on the topic of recycling & waste management - education is the key to positive change and the future health of our planet.

Any monies recieved to help towards promoting this important topic would be very gratefully received and you will be informed step by step of where every penny is being spent.