Reducing the environmental impact of Children’s Parties
This article was written by Joely Martin, currently on Maternity Leave from West Northamptonshire Council where she works as a Sustainability Officer.
As a parent, it’s an exciting new chapter when your child starts primary school. New skills, new friends and before long, parties almost every weekend. Now imagine there are 30 children in your child’s class and they are all having a party for their 5th birthday. The presents, the party bags, the expense and the waste, quickly adds up.
But, a parent-led campaign is looking to change the status quo.
The Kids Party Pact is campaigning to make gifting at kids parties more affordable and sustainable. They’ve recently been granted funding from the National Lottery Community Fund – and have been featured on BBC Newsround, in The Times and Positive News.
The aim is to get parents talking – and agreeing to make gifts and party bags more affordable and less wasteful. The idea is to remove the pressure of buying expensive gifts, normalise pre-loved gifting and teaching children that fun doesn’t come from stuff.
At its heart, The Kids Party Pact is about making birthdays easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
It offers parents a supportive framework for setting clear expectations around gifts and celebrations, while ensuring children still feel special and included. Concepts such as a fiver party or book swaps are becoming increasingly popular with parents who want to reduce the burden and expectations from parties.
The campaign is aiming to get 10,000 signatories to support parents in having the confidence to do things differently, knowing that they are part of a growing movement. You can find out more and sign the pact here - The Kids Party Pact | Sustainable Kid's Parties | No Crap Parties
Linked to the Kids Party Pact, is the concept of a party kit, which is a collection of reusable tableware and decorations that can be borrowed instead of buying single-use items. The Party Kit Network supports individuals, community groups & businesses in setting up and running a party kit.
There was a distinct lack of party kits in Northamptonshire, with just one in Desborough, North Northamptonshire, but this changed this year with Northampton Party Kits starting in February. It offers two different colour kits, providing tableware for up to 50 children, and is affordable, convenient and most importantly, waste free! Northampton Party Kits have recently won a Rising Star award from the annual Party Kit Network awards for the impact the kit has had since it was set up, helping to save 680 single use items from being used at parties.
Parents report it to be a convenient service, with washing up included in the party kit hire price. To enquire, get in touch with northamptonpartykits@gmail.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook.