ECO Streets

GROUNDWORK CASE STUDY

ECO Streets A community grants and

volunteering programme PROJECT DESCRIPTION A community grants and volunteering programme in Manchester and Trafford which aims to encourage collective community action against climate change.

“We were delighted to see so many exciting ideas from across our neighbourhoods and feel that residents took up the challenge. It will be great to see residents working together, growing produce and getting to know their neighbours.”

Niall Power, Head of Regeneration, City South Manchester

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS  Full grants programme completed in Manchester in March 2012. Eco Streets rolled out to Trafford where a two year programme will complete in March 2014.

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17 community groups supported through the grant funding process 12 community groups successful in securing grants of up to £2,500

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12 projects completed by March 2013, including community growing

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each.

COMMUNITY

projects, recycling and re-use initiatives, awareness raising activities

 Delivered the first Carbon Literacy training session outside of Manchester City  For every £1 invested in Eco Streets projects in Manchester, a further £0.70 was raised through other fundraising

Groundwork MSSTT Timber Wharf 42 - 50 Worsley Street Castlefield Manchester M15 4LD T: 0161 220 1000 www.groundwork.org.uk /msstt

GROUNDWORK CASE STUDY PROJECT SUMMARY

Eco Streets is a community grants and volunteering programme in Manchester and Trafford which aims to:

“I am proud of doing something together as our 2 streets very close neighbours.

The project gave us good opportunities to socialise. The alley is now ringing with voices at weekends”

 Incentivise communities to respond collectively to climate change  Build community capacity to respond to the Localism agenda, by upskilling local residents to play a more active role in their communities  Build strong and sustainable local networks and partnerships which will be equipped to encourage local environmental action

OUR ROLE  Engaging residents informally in the climate change message, through events, activities and existing groups  Building and managing a small grants programme to kick start or expand local “eco” projects  Building capacity by training groups in developing their project idea and applying for and managing funding.

“After living in the same street for over 20 years, (I am proud to be) finally doing something communal”

“The energy that is created when we are working is catching & addictive.”

Quotes from beneficiaries

 Offering an inspirational “Carbon Literacy” training day which helps groups to generate project ideas and develop individual and group action plans  Support volunteers on the programme by training them in core volunteering skills such as involving others  Building local relationships between groups and local organisations, to ensure a sustainable model of support

For more information contact: Deborah Murray Sustainable Communities Manager

PARTNERS

0161 220 1000 deborah.murray@groundwork.org.uk