Compo is a community composting project based around three communities, one of them a hard-to-engage inner suburb, the others rural villages. For us it is a first step towards employment, allowing young people to learn the disciplines of the workplace, including safety and health issues, handling machinery and dealing with the public, as well as team building skills; for the householders, it is about green waste disposal and environmental services; for the local authority, it demonstrates their commitment to social inclusion and third sector involvement. The project received substantial public and BIG Lottery financial support and has achieved financial sustainability within 3 years. Its value has been recognised through a number of regional and national awards.