At the beginning of 2021, The Dixon Foundation was extremely happy to support WasteAid with an unrestricted grant to support its operations during an incredibly challenging time of global turbulence.
The grant has contributed to the delivery of WasteAid’s ongoing projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the development of future projects through engagement with key stakeholders and communities to identify the most pressing needs. In Cameroon, where WasteAid and partners are aiming to prevent a minimum of 16 tonnes of marine plastic pollution, it has supported the training of 164 people in waste collection, recycling to:
– Improve waste collection and management in Village, a riverside community in the coastal city of Douala; and
– Reduce the amount of single-use plastic dumped in or near the Wouri River and thereby preventing plastic leakage into the Atlantic Ocean.
The grant has also enabled WasteAid to continue to raise the profile of waste management as a tool for sustainable development through its external communications, and on the role of waste management on the climate as part of a COP26 strategy.
About WasteAid
WasteAid partners with indigenous non-profits, businesses and governments to tackle the waste crisis in the countries in which it operates. WasteAid works to build its partners’ capacity and pass on the waste management and development knowledge that it is known for. This model allows WasteAid to embed sustainable recycling projects, which are appropriate to the local setting.
The Dixon Foundation is delighted to be supporting little sloth with a grant to build and launch the first full version of the little sloth childrenswear platform, which aims to reduce landfill waste by helping parents and carers to access sustainable, affordable and high quality preloved clothing to rent.
This grant will allow little sloth to build its rental platform in beta-testing mode, and prove that there is appetite for a childrenswear subscription service that makes a positive impact on the world. It will also help to build demand for independent, sustainable brands that are working to make the fashion industry more transparent and ethical – allowing them to further grow their sustainable businesses and continue the virtuous cycle.
About little sloth
little sloth is a childrenswear subscription service featuring UK based independent sustainable brands and preloved clothing to rent.
It exists to give busy parents and carers an easy way to shop smarter for their little ones. It gives shoppers what they want – quick and easy access to genuinely good childrenswear, sustainable brands what they need – a bigger audience; and the planet what it needs – environmentally friendly manufacturing and a more circular economy.
In early 2021, The Dixon Foundation made one of its first grants to Devon Wildlife Trust, to update Mincinglake Valley Park’s public infrastructure to provide easier access for all visitors.
Mincinglake Valley Park in Exeter had seen a greater number of people visiting due to the Covid pandemic. Whilst it was fantastic that more people were seeking to connect with nature on their doorstep, it also increased pressure on the park’s access facilities which urgently needed upgrading in order to support the increased footfall and encourage people to keep visiting the sites year-round.
The Dixon Foundation’s grant unlocked funding from Viridor Credits to enable a range of improvements to public access and information features at the site, including:
– Repairs to 135 metres of paths and replacing some steps with ramps to benefit visitors using wheels (mobility scooters, pushchairs, bikes etc.);
– The removal of some gates and stiles at key access points; and
– New way-finder posts and community noticeboards for visitors to learn about the site’s history, wildlife and conservation methods.
As well as the work at Mincinglake Valley Parks, Devon Wildlife Trust continues to enhance habitats for wildlife and public access at all six of the Valley Parks, as well as on its 52 nature reserves around Devon. This is complemented by education activities with local schools and community groups undertaking major conservation projects like Saving Devon’s Treescapes.
About Devon Wildlife Trust
The Devon Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts partnership covering the county of Devon, England. A registered charity established in 1962 by a small group of volunteers, Devon Wildlife Trust is the only charity that exists to protect all wildlife in Devon and to safeguard Devon’s unique natural environment.
The Dixon Foundation is proud to be supporting ClimateScience with an unrestricted grant until December 2022, to aid the development of new climate education materials and a platform housing ClimateScience content.
The grant is primarily being directed towards the production and publishing of 8 entertaining educational children’s books as well as their translation into multiple languages to support global usage. It is also being used to develop a new platform designed to support teachers use ClimateScience content freely in classrooms both digitally and physically by providing accessible offline resources globally.
With a long-term goal of getting their learning materials approved for integration into national curricula, ClimateScience will be offering distinct types of content for specific stages of education as well as digital tools supporting schools’ need to track learner progress, and means of providing supplemental teaching resources both online and offline.
About ClimateScience
ClimateScience creates impactful, multilingual, educational content based around beautifully illustrated, scientifically-grounded courses, quizzes, and books. It is a registered UK non-profit organisation involving over 200 volunteers collaborating as authors, illustrators, reviewers, translators etc., and has developed local community chapters in 20 countries, predominantly across the Global South.
