Muck & Brass

Chorlton & District Composting Collective

A community-led vermicomposting pilot at St Margaret's Community & Food Hub, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Turning local waste into food, skills, and connection—run by and for the people of Whalley Range and Chorlton.

What We're Doing

Muck & Brass is a practical experiment in turning what local businesses throw away into something the community can use. We're starting with coffee grounds and cardboard from cafés and shops around Whalley Range and Chorlton, feeding them to worms at St Margaret's, and using what comes out the other end to grow food right there in the neighbourhood. Along the way, people on probation get hands-on experience collecting, building, and maintaining the system—while Food Hub users learn to grow, cook, and serve what we produce. It's not a polished programme. It's a pilot. We're figuring out what works as we go, with the people who live here steering it.

The Collective

Setting up a community-governed composting collective at St Margaret's Community & Food Hub (M21 0TT), coordinated by the St Margaret's Centre User Forum with a dedicated Steering Group.

Waste Collection & Vermicomposting

Weekly collection of used coffee grounds and compostable cardboard from local businesses by people on probation. Combined with food waste from the Food Hub and processed through wormeries to produce vermicompost.

Skills & Food Production

People on probation construct, monitor and maintain the vermicomposting system. Hub service users grow, cook and serve food using the compost produced. Hands-on learning from waste to plate.

Environmental Care

Promoting ecological awareness and circular food systems with people on probation, local businesses, Food Hub users, and the wider community.

Who This Project Serves

People experiencing food insecurity — through locally-grown food produced at the Food Hub

People on probation — through constructive, community-benefitting work and skills development

Food Hub service users — through involvement in growing, cooking, and serving

Local food and hospitality businesses — through a sustainable waste collection solution

The project was originated by members of the St Margaret's Centre User Forum and developed through consultation with service users, local businesses, and Probation managers.

How the Project Is Run

This is not top-down delivery. The project is community-driven:

St Margaret's Centre User Forum coordinates day-to-day activity and ensures the project's future beyond the pilot

Steering Group oversees direction, spending, and decision-making

Egino Emerging provides operational support, vermiculture expertise, and links to wider employability programmes

Probation services refer participants and monitor community payback hours

The User Forum will steward the project once Lottery funding ends, ensuring sustainability.