Meet the Member: How Libby’s Yatton Waste Free Party Kit Is Cutting Waste and Supporting the Community
- Party Kit Network
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
In Yatton, North Somerset, Libby has built something for her community: a growing collection of reusable party supplies that local families borrow for birthdays, school events and community celebrations. In the last year alone, the Yatton Waste Free Party Kit helped avoid around 3,000 single-use items and raised money for the local school PTA.
Libby runs the kit as a free community resource, but as a member of the Party Kit Network she is part of a growing movement of organisers across the UK, each running their kit in their own way. Her story is a useful one for anyone curious about what a party kit actually looks like in practice.
Yatton Waste Free Party Kit is a brilliant example of what’s possible when a practical idea meets community spirit.
What Is a Community Party Kit?
A community party kit is a shared collection of reusable party supplies (plates, cups, cutlery, decorations, and more) that local people can borrow instead of buying single-use items. Kits are run in different ways: some are completely free, some ask for an optional donation, and others charge a small hire fee, whether as part of a local lending library, run by someone from their home or a small community enterprise.
The core idea is deliberately simple: borrow it, use it, wash it up, and bring it back. No single-use waste. Minimal fuss.
Libby first encountered the idea online, and then spotted someone giving away a kit in a village nearby.
"I'd seen the idea online, and then noticed someone giving away a kit in a village nearby. It struck me as the kind of thing that really should exist everywhere. So I thought, 'Why not just start one here?'"
Libby has been running a party kit ever since and became a member of the Party Kit Network in January 2023.
Meet Libby: The Woman Behind the Yatton Waste Free Party Kit
Libby has spent her career working at the intersection of waste, sustainability and community. Before moving into her current climate-focused role, she spent 16 years in the waste industry. She's a Carbon Literacy trainer, recently completed Water Literacy training, and is studying for an MSc in Business Sustainability.
But for Libby, knowledge has always had to translate into action.
"For as long as I can remember I've been passionate about helping people reduce waste in convenient ways."
She’s honest about the emotional weight of understanding the climate crisis, and clear about how she manages it.
"Sometimes it can be upsetting to understand the current state of the planet, so it helps me to know that I'm doing something."
That sense of purpose was deepened during a community Carbon Literacy course, when naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham shared a message that stayed with her:
"When your children or grandchildren look you in the eye in 20, 30 or 40 years' time, you can tell them: I did enough. I did everything I could."
How the Yatton Waste Free Party Kit Works
The kit launched with items from IKEA sets, and has grown steadily through donations from local families and charity shops. Today it includes reusable tableware, decorations, party games and a very popular fancy-dress collection.
Hires are typically for a weekend, covering children’s birthday parties, school events and local celebrations. For using Libby’s party kit, she asks for an optional donation to her children's school PTA, which Libby is involved in.
"It's satisfying watching the PTA donations build. As someone on the PTA myself, it feels good to be helping raise money while also cutting down on waste."
The Impact: Around 3,000 Single-Use Items Avoided in One Year
The numbers speak for themselves. In the last year alone, Libby estimates the Yatton Waste Free Party Kit has helped avoid approximately 3,000 single-use items: plates and cups that would otherwise have ended up in the bin after a single use. This success earned Libby one of the Party Kit Network's Super Star awards in 2025.
And that's just one kit, in one community. Multiply that across the growing Party Kit Network, and the collective impact becomes significant.
Libby's kit is also part of a wider ecosystem of community reuse projects she has built in Yatton: she runs the Yatton Repair Café, leads twice-monthly litter picks, and coordinates local campaigns through the Waste Less Yatton initiative. At her children's school, she's set up a reuse shed for uniforms, coats and shoes, and a World Book Day costume swap.
All of these projects share the same ethos: making low-waste living easier and more accessible for everyone.
How People Find the Kit and Why Word of Mouth Matters
Like many party kits, the biggest driver of bookings is word of mouth.
"Some people find the kit through the website, but I get many people saying 'I saw this at another party'."
Links with the local school also help. Libby can promote the kit through school newsletters and Facebook groups, reaching exactly the families who are most likely to benefit from using it.
The reaction when people first hear about it? Almost always the same.
"The reactions I get are often along the lines of: 'I had no idea this was even a thing!'"
That moment of discovery, realising there’s a low-waste reusable alternative right on your doorstep, is something Party Kit Network members across the globe recognise. No two kits are identical, but that’s rather the point: each one is shaped by its community.
Thinking About Starting a Party Kit? Here's What Libby Learned
Starting a community party kit might feel like a big undertaking. And there’s no single right way to do it; kits run as free community resources, donation-based schemes and small hire businesses all sit within the Party Kit Network. But wherever you start, Libby’s experience is a reassuring guide.
"Keep it simple, don't worry about starting small, and let it grow naturally as people get to know it. Most communities are more supportive than you expect — and once the idea is out there, it tends to spread by itself."
The practical challenges of running a kit (storage, organisation, keeping on top of bookings) are real, but manageable. And the Party Kit Network exists precisely to help.
"Isabel is brilliant at replying to questions, and the shared templates and guides have saved a lot of time. It's reassuring to know other people are doing the same thing and happy to share what works."
The Party Kit Network offers a free downloadable guide to running a party kit covering everything from what to include in your kit, to how to manage bookings and spread the word in your community. It’s useful whatever model you’re considering, and it’s the quickest way to get started with confidence.
The Bigger Picture: A Quiet Revolution in Reuse
For Libby, running a party kit has opened her eyes to the wider movement it sits within and sparked even more ideas.
"The Party Kit Network and projects like No Crap Parties have made me realise how a small movement can have a huge impact. I'm considering starting a community repair project myself… so watch this space!"
And looking ahead, she's optimistic about where party kits are headed.
“I can see party kits becoming a normal option for families - just another community resource people know about and use. I'd love to see them available in schools, community spaces and libraries. They're an easy, affordable, low-waste alternative."
Find your nearest party kit, or start one in your community
Ready to make your next party more sustainable? Use the map on our website to find a kit near you. Each kit is run a little differently: some are free to borrow, some ask for a small donation, and some charge a hire fee, but all of them mean less waste and more reuse. If there isn’t one in your area yet and you’d like to start one, download our free guide to get started. It covers everything you need, step by step.
