About us

Who are we?

South West London Environment Network (SWLEN) was registered as a company limited by guarantee, and a charity, and began operating on 1 April 2011 to replace, and expand, the work of Richmond Environment Network (REN).

History

REN was an unincorporated not-for-profit organisation set up in 2004 by a partnership of British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), the Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames and the Thames Landscape Strategy. Between 2004 and 2007 Richmond's LA21 Group and REN worked collaboratively resulting in the LA Group merging into REN, the LA21 Group had been founded in 1997. In 2010 the partners decided that REN needed to formalise its arrangements and become an independent and incorporated organisation in order for it to capitalise on the opportunities ahead in an uncertain climate. SWLEN is a charity no. 1140872 and registered in England and Wales as a company no. 7469024.

Our Vision

Our environment protected and enhanced by people thinking globally and acting locally for themselves and future generations.

Our Mission

To enthuse and empower people so that they can work together to protect the environment and to deliver solutions to environmental problems.

Our Aims

To create a successful and financially secure charity that:

• provides an exemplary support and capacity building service to third sector organisations working in the field of sustainable development in South West London,
• provides a voice for the third sector in relation to environmental and sustainability issues,
• demonstrates good practice in the delivery of sustainability projects which encourage people and organisations to work together to reduce their impact on the environment.

Our Approach

We passionately believe that local people are the best placed to protect and enhance where they live. Enabling and empowering local people to work together is a powerful way to protect and enhance the environment and solve environmental problems. We also believe that working collaboratively we achieve more, whether it's working with local environmental groups, local schools or representing them with local strategic bodies, sharing information and resources, the partnership approach gives us all a stronger position. This approach can bring wider benefits to the community, charitable organisations and local authorities and can be demonstrated through our fundraising support to local organisations, which helped to raise £602,383 between April 2009 - March 2010.

Expansion of SWLEN

SWLEN is seeking funding and partnerships to work beyond Richmond upon Thames to support groups in neighbouring boroughs and to help foster new community-led environmental activity. We hope to work in the boroughs of Hounslow and Kingston, subject to securing further funding to do so.

Governance & Management

SWLEN is governed by a board of trustees which has given authority for the day-to-day management of the charity to an executive sub committee, comprising our chairman, John Anderson, Clive Messenger, our company secretary Vicky Phillips and chief officer, Colin Cooper.

Our Team

Board of Trustees

Other team members

Advisory Group

SWLEN meets regularly with representatives from some of the groups with whom we work. They review our plans and help to ensure we are doing what they see as important. The group comprises :