groundwork impact report 2013
Groundwork is the community charity with a green heart. Groundwork was established more than three decades ago as a one-off experiment to galvanise communities, businesses and government in a joint effort to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development in places that had become run-down and neglected. We have since grown into a national network and international movement which, in the UK, delivers projects and programmes to the value of more than £100 million each year. We’ll keep changing places and changing lives until everywhere is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and everyone can reach their potential.
including Marks & Spencer, Cadbury, Direct Line, United Utilities, Virgin Trains, Interserve, DHL and Southern Water to organisations such as the Big Lottery Fund and government departments. We also work with the Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland and local authorities and housing associations all over the country. We make a massive difference each year but want to do even more for the communities we serve. That’s why we have set ourselves three ambitious targets. By 2015, we pledge to:
We work where we’re needed most. That’s why we’re on the ground in communities that face the biggest challenges, delivering thousands of projects across the UK. Whether it’s tackling climate change or helping people out of fuel poverty, bringing out the best in young people by helping them to improve their local area, building stronger communities by improving green spaces or getting people back into work by creating green jobs we make a difference that is greater than the sum of its parts. We work with a wide range of partners to make this change happen, from major brands and businesses
Cover image by Amy Scaife.
Making a difference
Our impact last year: ÂŁ107 million invested in communities across
the UK.
425,000 days of community involvement by adults and young people. 4,500 community organisations supported 10 million square metres of land improved. 327,000 trees planted. 4,500 people supported into training, education
or employment.
7,000 qualifications delivered. 4,000 businesses supported. 155,000 tonnes of CO
2
emissions avoided.
80,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill.
The spirit of 2012 Groundwork is dedicated to building on the spirit of 2012 – a year of celebration and social action for the UK with thousands of people motivated by the feel-good factor of the Jubilee and the Olympics to volunteer, either as part of small community events or huge global spectacles. Groundwork played its part in ensuring 2012 was a success and is using the Games legacy to encourage people to maintain and build on their commitment to their communities.
Getting involved Our national £3 million partnership with Cadbury came to a crescendo during the Olympics. For two years, as part of the company’s sponsorship of the Games, we employed ‘games co-ordinators’ who recruited and supported volunteers to run fun events in their local communities, providing opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to get involved in local activities. In two years almost 5,000 volunteers were recruited, of whom more than 50% intend to sustain their voluntary activity beyond the life of the programme. As part of parent company Mondelèz International’s legacy for its Olympic sponsorship, further funding is being provided to help us sustain volunteer recruitment in Wrexham, Sheffield and Uxbridge, close to the company’s main office and factory premises.
In London Groundwork began delivering Transform, the flagship project in the London 2012 Changing Places programme. With support from Defra, SITA Trust, City Bridge Trust and the Big Lottery Fund, Transform is a major initiative to support communities in improving run-down sites around the Olympic Park in East London. In total more than 4,000 people have so far volunteered, transforming 50 sites with a further 20 now under way. Groundwork also received a significant number of materials from the Olympic Park for reuse and is now helping community groups benefit from these free materials and equipment.
improving people’s prospects Groundwork was established with a vision of harnessing cross-sector partnerships and a focus on practical local action as a way of addressing the connected social, environmental and economic challenges faced by communities. As Britain endures a sustained period of austerity, many of those challenges have intensified.
Unemployment – in particular youth unemployment – remains a major issue and we have redoubled our efforts to help young people develop their confidence, skills and employment prospects. We are at the forefront of efforts to tackle youth unemployment through government initiatives such as the Youth Contract and the Work Programme and through our own innovative models.
Last year we helped:
4,500
people progress into training, education or employment.
7,000
people gain qualifications Our Green Teams – group activities for the long-term unemployed delivering community regeneration projects while providing training and job search support – go from strength to strength. In London Green Teams have been working as part of strategies developed with the Environment Agency and social housing providers to reduce flood risk in Hackney and Hammersmith, providing not just skills and jobs but protecting communities from the damaging economic impacts of flooding.
Kick-starting the debate Groundwork has been helping adults and young people in 20 areas across England to get more involved in the design and delivery of services for young people. Young People Friendly Neighbourhoods, supported by the Department for Education, saw 133 adults and 138 young people commit to working as volunteers to sustain and build local youth provision. Working with
housing associations has been a central element of the programme and has kick-started a wider debate within the social housing sector about the focus of neighbourhood services. As a result of the programme young people in Durham claimed the honour of launching the country’s first youthled mutual, a new organisation owned and run by young people and now working with the council and other local organisations to shape the future of youth services in the area. 51% of young people surveyed as part of the programme reported ‘improved engagement with education’ as a result of their involvement.
Groundwork in action: Chloe “I come from a family of 12 brothers and sisters, and we all live in a three bedroom house. Both of my parents are drug users. I don’t have any GCSEs and didn’t go to school much. “I was living with an older man, who was also a drug dealer, when I first met my youth mentor. The man went home to his family, which made me depressed and suicidal. Since the break-up there were threats of violence from his partner. This made me upset and meant I couldn’t leave the house without an adult.
Self awareness “I had weekly one-to-one sessions with my mentor, which helped me to look at ways of dealing with my personal life. She supported me to make a complaint about the harassment I was suffering, get my sexual health tested and receive treatment, develop my self awareness, confidence and ways of communicating with my family. “After working with her for four weeks, I felt ready to take part in training and began studying English, maths and functional skills courses. That’s when I realised I was struggling with anxiety on public transport and still felt threatened. “My mentor agreed that I could work from home until I felt safe. That continued for eight weeks, but I managed to complete health and
safety training, preparing for work, equality and diversity and other maths and English courses. “I feel like I am finally getting somewhere, but most of all I have someone who is there for me day and night when I have things on my mind.” Chloe (not her real name), aged 16, took part in Groundwork’s ‘On-Track’ programme – specialist advice and support for 16 and 17 year olds with no educational attainment. On-Track is part of the government’s Youth Contract.
“I finally feel like I am getting somewhere.�
Groundwork in action: Nicole “I got involved because I wanted to make a difference to where I live and I wanted people to help me. I thought: ‘I’ve had the help, so why shouldn’t I help other young people?’ “There’s not a lot for young people to do around here. We’re trying to get more things up and running. Our group helped clean the park where we meet and we have even met the head of service at County Hall about the state of the park and the estate. “We want to bring the community together. In our community, the older generation don’t listen to young people, but now we have a voice they understand what we need and we understand what they need. “Being part of the Crew has made me feel better for knowing that I can help people.” Nicole, aged 15, is a member of Circle Crew for Change (CCfC), the UK’s first youth mutual. CCfC – owned and controlled by the young people it exists to serve – was established following Groundwork’s Young People Friendly Neighbourhoods programme and is pioneering a new approach in youth services. The project provides informal educational activities, along with information, advice and guidance for local children and young people.
“Being part of the Crew has made me feel better for knowing I can help people.”
Nicole (centre right) with Cabinet Office Minister Nick Hurd and other members of CCfC.
Promoting greener living and working Groundwork is committed to helping people develop the awareness and commitment to lead more sustainable lifestyles. Groundwork’s Green Doctors are a presence in many areas of the country, delivering roadshows and community events and providing in-home advice to vulnerable people on how to increase the energy efficiency of their properties and learn simple ways of reducing their waste and bills. Throughout the last year Green Doctor programmes have been running in Greater Manchester, West and South Yorkshire, London, Hertfordshire, the South East, West Midlands and Wales with the support of local authorities and housing associations. Groundwork’s contract with Southern Water to help customers reduce their water bills and make the most of their money continues to deliver strong results with 11,600 visits undertaken in the last year realising nearly £700k in terms of benefit income for priority groups. Health inequalities across the UK continue to be a major source of concern and we are constantly exploring opportunities to help vulnerable people – young and old – make healthier lifestyle choices and benefit from warmer homes and healthier environments.
The introduction of new financial mechanisms such as Green Deal and ECO (Energy Company Obligation), has helped us to begin exploring how we can work with councils and private contractors to scale up efforts to support energy efficiency, particularly in the most disadvantaged communities. This has involved working with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, sector partners such as BRE and CSE, energy companies including npower and E-On and with a number of councils and contractors to test ways of driving up awareness and action in major cities and isolated areas. Helping people access work and lead more sustainable lifestyles are key ingredients in supporting the health and well-being of communities. Target Well-being, the £10 million Lottery programme managed by Groundwork and focused on the areas of the North West with the worst health problems, has now been extended for a further two years and now also operates in the North East and West Midlands. 95 projects supported to date have delivered significant health benefits with participants benefiting from increased physical activity and dietary changes. 90% reported that their involvement had helped them gain more control over their lives.
Last year:
4,000
businesses supported
155,000
tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided
80,000
tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill
Groundwork in action: Michael “I’ve lived in private rented accommodation for two years after a period sleeping rough. “My landlord had been slow to carry out repairs so I paid for improvements myself, which left me with financial difficulties and arrears on my energy bills. “I also had no control over my heating as the boiler and bills were shared with the downstairs flat.
Control over energy “Groundwork helped me to secure grants to repair the walls and a Warm Homes rebate on my electricity bill. They also helped to persuade my landlord to install a boiler in my flat, so I had control over the energy I use. “I was afraid that if I made a stand against the landlord I would lose my tenancy and be back on the street. But Groundwork was a godsend. They were polite, patient, professional and extremely helpful.” Michael (not his real name) was helped by Keep Warm, Stay Warm, a project funded through the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund, with the aim of reducing deaths and illness within Hertfordshire due to vulnerable people living in cold housing. Groundwork advisers carried out home visits, offering practical help and advice on sources of assistance.
“Groundwork was a godsend. They were polite, patient and extremely helpful.”
“It’s all about building a legacy.”
Groundwork in action: Grant “I help people to save money on their fuel bills and think about better ways of using energy. “The project I’m working on will help over 8,000 people in rural communities in the Swansea area with advice on energy efficiency and how to beat fuel poverty. “I support residents to change their tariffs or use alternative forms of energy. I also carry out ‘house audits’ to identify ways people can make their homes more efficient through insulation and other means. “One local resident was interested in solar panels. I was able to guide her through the process and find a local supplier that she knew and trusted to carry out the work. “We also work with schools to raise awareness of renewable energy among young people and I am training local volunteers to carry on the good work in their communities. “I have very strong beliefs about the importance of helping communities to develop skills and knowledge that they can carry forward even after our projects have ended. “Groundwork has a strong local reputation so people trust us to give sound advice and a good service. “It’s all about building a legacy.” Grant Cockerill works with the Sustainable Regeneration team at Groundwork in South Wales. Positive Energy is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Development Programme, aimed at tackling poverty in rural communities.
CREATING BETTER PLACES Groundwork’s mission to get more people involved in protecting, improving and managing the environment on their doorstep has never been more urgent. Cuts in local authority spending are already leading to the first signs of decay and decline as councils reduce maintenance budgets with the prospect of a return to the ‘bad old days’ of parks and play areas being dangerous no-go areas or breeding grounds for anti-social behaviour.
Last year:
425,000
days of community involvement by adults and young people
4,500
community organisations supported
10
million square metres of land improved
327,000 trees planted
At the same time, social and environmental challenges are putting more stress on our public infrastructure with an urgent need for open spaces to be ‘retrofitted’ to ensure they can cope with greater population density and play an active role in dealing with the effects of climate change, in particular flooding. These challenges, however, are matched by an increasing appetite among communities to reclaim public spaces as places to meet, play, grow and eat and among businesses and housing providers to ensure local areas are safe and attractive places in which to live and work.
Major initiatives Groundwork has a significant track record of engaging businesses, their employees and customers in practical action to improve local environments. The last year has seen the culmination of two major national initiatives. @myurbangreen, a programme supported by Marks & Spencer, resulted in 745 events taking place and 236 local groups being supported to take a more active role in managing their local green spaces. Groundwork also managed delivery of the Transform Your Patch consumer campaign led by Britvic to engage shoppers in supporting 200 local green space projects. Transform Your Patch has been recognised as one of the most innovative consumer engagement campaigns of the year, picking up a number of industry awards. Throughout the year Groundwork has worked with many other businesses to help them provide opportunities for team building and personal development among their employees while volunteering on projects to improve and manage open spaces, including News UK, which is aiming to stimulate 1,200 days of volunteering among its staff, Aviva, Mars, Direct Line and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. One business – the global construction and facilities management company
Interserve – has worked with us to develop an innovative approach to supporting local community projects by establishing an online portal through which its staff across the country can offer surplus materials, equipment and labour, providing valuable in-kind contributions.
Local projects Helping people organise to protect, improve and develop the physical fabric of their communities has been at the heart of our mission for more than three decades. Community Spaces, a ÂŁ58 million grant programme managed by Groundwork as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund, continues to demonstrate just what local groups can achieve with the right resources and support. Through the programme around 950 local community groups in England have been supported with funding and the services of an expert facilitator to develop and deliver local projects to improve open spaces that matter to them. By the end of 2012/13 784 projects from play areas to woodlands to village greens had been completed with the involvement of nearly 25,000 volunteers. 90% of the groups involved reported that the support they received from their project facilitator was good or excellent.
GROUNDWORK IN ACTION: GERRY “I don’t have any sort of background in horticulture. For years I was a secondary school teacher, helping students learn Spanish and French, far removed from working outdoors on eco-projects like the Colin Allotments. “A year or so ago, I took redundancy and I was really just looking for something to occupy my time. Friends who had allotments on the site invited me to see their plots so I decided to tag along.
“I now have a personal allotment which I manage and this year has been very good for produce – I’ve grown potatoes, onions, garlic, turnip, beans and courgettes. I’ve made rhubarb jam, pickled beetroot, grown beans – all from skills I’ve gained this past year. “I’m doing things I would have never done before through this volunteering opportunity – it’s a real change from what I did previously.
“I was very impressed with what I saw and when I spoke to Groundwork about becoming a volunteer we agreed I would assist at the project for two days each week.
“Also, I haven’t bought vegetables from a supermarket for months – which has helped financially with the household budget – it’s been a great departure in my life.”
Personal allotment
Gerry Lenaghan, aged 60, is a volunteer at the Colin Community Allotments, a Groundwork managed site in west Belfast. It has been part-funded by the European Union’s Peace III Programme, through the Sharing Our Space initiative.
“I had absolutely no experience – the closest thing I had done to this was helping out on a farm when I was a student about 40 years ago. “Yet, here I was hedge laying – removing undergrowth then using it to thicken hedge uprights into the ground, weaving thinner branches into the hedge – I tell you if jobs in hedge laying appear, I’ll be applying for them.
“I’m doing things I would never have done before through this volunteering opportunity.”
GROUNDWORK IN ACTION: Cyan “It was probably the hottest day of the year, but we all got stuck in and cleared derelict land, put down woodchip paths and built raised beds. “It was really encouraging to meet the local people and to find out that what we were doing mattered to them. Some came and joined in with us straight away, while others promised to come back later and continue the good work. “I can’t remember the last time I picked up a wheelbarrow, but it was a good way to realise that there is more to life than tapping away at a keyboard. “People are so busy you forget there is life outside the office. We really built up a sweat and felt we were doing something practical and valuable. I walked home covered in mud, but I felt like I’d had a really good day.” Cyan Turan, aged 23, is an editorial assistant at the Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous magazine. She joined a dozen colleagues on a Groundwork/ News UK volunteering day to develop a community garden in Bow, south-east London.
“People are so busy you forget there is life outside the office.”
Groundwork in action: Sue “We have a small core team of committee members and we now have a much bigger pool of active volunteers willing to run sessions for local people to learn more about growing food and using the crops we produce. We have all developed our skills and people have increased in confidence. We have a much better insight into what a community garden needs. “We are able to share our knowledge of things like, planting, permaculture, forest gardening, foraging and pickling. We also supply local restaurants with fresh produce, which has been a good way of learning about commercial food production. “Our challenge now is to operate as a much more professional team. We need to work out how to make the most of the resources we have. We have learned to pace ourselves and understand what is possible with a team of volunteers. “We are not managers, we are gardeners, so we are looking to recruit someone to run the project while we act as a proper management board, providing more strategic planning at the site.
“Our impact is now global.” “Our project has become an informal hub for local people who are keen to learn more about gardening and in particular the principles behind permaculture. “Our impact is now global, with our blog and website being read all over the world.” Sue Amos and her colleagues at the Burgess Park Food Project in Peckham, London, started a community food-growing project on a derelict site in their south London park with a £46,000 grant from the Big Lottery Community Spaces fund, managed by Groundwork UK. A Groundwork-appointed facilitator helped them with the planning and initial management of the project, including negotiating with the local council, which owns the park.
The future of our parks, playgrounds, allotments and other green spaces has never been more uncertain. That’s why we’re challenging everyone to take action before it’s too late. Make Tomorrow Different is our campaign to recapture the spirit of London 2012 and mobilise a new kind of ‘Team GB’ striving for a Great Green Britain by encouraging communities and businesses to join us in the challenge of creating or improving 1,000 green spaces by 2015.
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