Supporting environmental groups

Our main role is to support local environmental groups and social action. We passionately believe that local groups are best placed to involve and build relationships with local people.

People wishing to start or run a group may be unsure how to manage a voluntary organisation, which can be vastly different from the business world. Skills needed might include :

• recruiting interest and volunteers,
• keeping volunteers involved and supported,
• how to run volunteer events and conservation work days safely,
• how to promote the group, develop and make best use of the web and social media,
• write policies and procedures to protect the group and volunteers,
• keep up to date with current regulatory requirements,
• raise funding to improve parks and green spaces,
• build a raised bed for planting,
• how to start a project to repair old bicycles, or recycle old furniture,
• how each local authority works and how best local groups could and should be linked into them.

This is where we can and do help, we can make these things happen. For full details, see Help for a group 

References

Funding & Development: Ham United Group

Jean Loveland, Ham United Group :

“Ham United Group (HUG) is a local charitable group that was set up by people in Ham to improve the environment and quality of life for their community. HUG run a community allotment and a bird and butterfly garden at Ham Library and organise community events. SWLEN has been involved right from the start of the group in 2006 with the SWLEN Co-ordinator attending meetings and giving advice on different projects. SWLEN negotiated with Ham House, a National Trust property, for HUG to have a plot of land available to them for vegetables to be grown and distributed to the local community.

Arguably this was the first time in Ham House’s 400 year history that local people have had the opportunity to grow food in the grounds of Ham House! Due to expanding needs HUG has moved its community allotment to the grounds of the Grey Court School, a move also facilitated by SWLEN. This will allow the group to continue its work in the community and develop its links with the school.

SWLEN has provided other practical help including giving the group a webpage, and providing insurance, helping with funding applications, and loaning tools. Transition Towns, an initiative championed by SWLEN, has proven an inspiration for HUG and this led to the loan of a DVD called “Power of Community” from SWLEN’s community resource library which started off the Ham Movie Nights. SWLEN can work with groups to raise their profile. SWLEN has nominated HUG for a number of awards, which they won, to celebrate all the good work HUG has done in and for the community". 

Support & Development: Friends of School House Lane Orchard 

Ian Jones Healy, Friends of School House Lane Orchard :

“SWLEN was essential in helping to set up the Friends of School House Lane Orchard advising on the constitution, funding and other matters. It also provided equipment and financial help by paying the BTCV insurance to get the group started. We recently took up SWLEN’s offer of a webpage on its site as well as using e-voice as hosts for our own new website. REN has loaned their equipment to us and we have borrowed a small marquee for our summer party. SWLEN organised an evening meeting on fundraising and an overview on how new regulations affecting working with children and vulnerable adults and the implications for our group which was very useful.

"In 2009 SWLEN organised a visit to see the work of other environmental and friends groups in the borough, which helped share knowledge on ways of working and generate new ideas. We hope this will be repeated. It has also introduced us to contacts in the council and BTCV. SWLEN also brought to our attention other projects, such as recently, the London Orchard Project. The regular SWLEN newsletter is a useful update on environmental initiatives and opportunities, such as funding. SWLEN advised on fundraising and supported the successful Awards for All Grant application in 2006. They also nominated us for a BTCV Green Hero Award in 2007 and a Richmond Council for Voluntary Service Community Award in 2007. SWLEN have also given advice on numerous occasions over the last 4 years and this has been invaluable to us as a group." 

Support: Archdeacon Cambridge’s School

Etain Gibson, Deputy Head :

“We have benefitted greatly from SWLEN as it can be difficult for teachers to make a start on these issues and encouragement and support are vital. The Forum's you have run have encouraged many sustainable ideas we have addressed in school and have given excellent practical advice. Since your encouragement and support last year we have obtained a grant of £44,000 from BAA for our Infant Sustainability Project where the children can learn about sustainability through food growing and biodiversity conservation. We are very excited about this opportunity to support children developing an early understanding of these issues which will help them to take responsibility for the way they live their lives in the future. Your supporting letter for our application greatly contributed to the successful outcome."

"A personal thank you to Joe Pecorelli and SWLEN for encouraging and nurturing this important project. At the moment we are growing veg in every available space around the school: it's like a war time effort!”