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Merci

MERCi is the North West's leading sustainable development innovator and the largest membership based environmental charity in Manchester.

MERCi has recently established Bridge-5 Mill - Manchester's first Centre for Sustainable Development. MERCi is, however, more than a building. MERCi also works on training programs; green business creation and support; urban food initiatives; green technology promotion as well as supporting community and voluntary groups in making Manchester greener, safer and more equitable.

Manchester Environmental Resource Centre Initiative Mission Statement

  • MERCi believes that the most effective way to involve local people in a vision for a sustainable Manchester is to establish a Centre for Sustainable Development in the city.
  • MERCi will, therefore, strive to provide support, stability and advice to organisations and individuals that share this vision of sustainable living and will seek to advance public awareness around sustainability issues.
  • MERCi will ensure that the Centre for Sustainable Development is a demonstration of eco-design and refurbishment best practice, and sustainable living in an urban environment.
  • MERCi believes in a local and fair sustainable economy. It will, therefore, promote and provide support for community-based initiatives that create socially and ecologically worthwhile secure employment for local people.

Therefore MERCi carries out work under the broad headings of Education; Community; Enterprise and Environment. Below are some short examples of work we carry out in these areas;-

Education

New Deal.
To refurbish the mill in Ancoats and to ensure greater local ownership of the project we employed 16 local unemployed lads to carry out the carpentry work in the building. They began in February 2000 and started by clearing and preparing the building. Over the year they laid floor boards, built stud walling, hung doors and carried out most of the work on three floors. In the process they learnt related skills like constructing scaffolding, maintaining tools, planning and designing work and with the aid of a local college secured NVQ qualifications in site joinery.

Building on Equality.
MERCi has run two very successful training courses for lone parent women in construction skills. The six month long courses have included carpentry, welding, brick laying, painting and decorating and an introduction to electrics and plumbing. They were also given support for child care provision, computer training and general team building and confidence building sessions.

You Are Here.
This is an interactive exhibition to encourage more sustainable ways of living. Issues included in exhibition include energy, waste and resource use, transport and food. To visit the exhibition ring Laura at MEEN on 0161 273 8881

Community

Community outreach.
MERCi has dedicated workers who work with the local community  to identify and address the needs of local people. From the results they then begin to help facilitate the work needed to tackle problems and build on potential opportunities.

Response to the east Manchester Framework
MERCi submitted a twenty four page response to the New East Manchester Board recommending ways in which the regeneration of the area could be more beneficial to local people.

Enterprise

MPEN
MERCi called the meeting that led to the creation of MPEN and is its link organisation providing  personnel management and financial services.

Sustainable Economic Enterprises - Development & Support
MERCi strongly believes that only by providing local job opportunities can a neighbourhood become truly prosperous. Locally based enterprises which address local problems, build on local opportunities and employ local people are the best tool we have to make areas more environmentally friendly, socially responsible and equitable.

In Bridge-5 Mill MERCi has established Manchester's first dedicated Green Business Centre with units for small businesses and sole traders who are giving equal weight to the environment, our community and the economy.

Businesses to date include an interior designer who only uses environmentally friendly paints, a landscape architect who designs wild garden areas for schools, a furniture maker who uses reclaimed wood and a training provider who works with communities to give them more influence in regeneration issues.

Environment

Green Features of the building
MERCi places environmental considerations at its core and as a result Bridge-5 Mill is arguably Manchester's greenest building. The mill was refurbished using over 90% reclaimed materials.  MERCi has built on this experience and established a construction materials reclaimation company.

Neighbourhood greening.
MERCi staff are involved in a number of micro-projects to green our neighbourhood including the establishment of a community garden.

Eco Audits.
MERCi has carried out a number of audits for groups to help them reduce their environmental impact and to save resources and money.

For further information visit www.bridge-5.org

a network of community enterprises, workers co-op & not-for-profits working in progressive ways to make our city greener, healthier and more equitable

Network Co-ordinator : Andy Wynne MPEN, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR
mpen@bridge-5.org tel - 0161 273 1736

Grey progress..... Last year we imported 126 million litres of milk, while exporting 270 million litres.