Proper Job, the Chagford-based community recycling co-operative, recently hosted a visit from Phil Hope MP, the Minister for the Third Sector (pictured below). Proper Job is a community co-operative made up of a group of businesses: a community café, a shop and information point, a market garden and a re- use, repair and composting centre. It was a perfect sunny day to show off the site, which includes an array of composting bins for which Proper Job is well-known in Devon, and a treasure trove of books, clothing, PAT-tested electrical goods, paint and other items for re-sale to the public. Mr Hope was shown round by Mark Childs and Seth Kirton who run the site. Impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers and employees who work there, he outlined the support available from the Government to help enterprises like these, such as Train to Gain which provides impartial advice for businesses on skills training – a service he helped put in place in his former post as Skills Minister last year. Mr Hope is also committed to investing additional government funds to third sector organisations who often find funding to be a major obstacle to their development. Two of Proper Job's former managers and current directors welcomed the opportunity to meet the minister and discuss their areas of interest — they are now co-ordinating the Devon Community Composting Network (Nicky Scott) and Devon Community Recycling Network (Richard Gomme). They will shortly be sharing an office at the Proper Job site which hopefully will be of mutual benefit to all organisations involved. Also present was Viv Calderbank representing Co- operatives South West, the umbrella organisation for co-operatives and mutuals in the South West, who works to promote their common interests and highlight their considerable contribution to the local economy.
