Groundwork and the LAA

By Steve Harvey
Executive Director,
Groundwork Hertfordshire

I am the Executive Director of Groundwork Hertfordshire - an environmental charity that works alongside the whole community to transform places and lives. Groundwork Hertfordshire is an independent charity which is member of the national Federation of Groundwork Trusts. We will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2010 and on the basis that we deliver about 150 environmental projects each year...we have a rather large back-catalogue to be proud of!

The Groundwork team in Hertfordshire has grown steadily over the years as the demand for our ability to truly "change places and change lives" has increased. It seems from looking back at the history of the Trust that project initiatives which might have been seen as slightly "wacky" in 1985 are very much mainstream today.

Our staff team of 35 is a highly talented and experienced group who are all motivated by the desire to deliver sustainable environmental improvement projects that make a real difference to people's lives. We work alongside communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations to deliver projects and programmes that benefit People, Places and Prosperity. We achieve this by working in Partnership which has always been central to the Groundwork approach and is a key element of our success in building sustainable communities.

Groundwork's project portfolio spans all of the LAA themes. I hope that a couple of current examples will both illustrate what Groundwork is all about, and bring to life our contribution to the LAA:

Our Green Team initiative
The Green Team initiative is a 16 week full time voluntary training scheme for unemployed young people. Funding has been secured to run 3 Green Team courses per year for 3 years and we are currently working with the 4th cohort. Teams of up to 5 young people aged 16-25 receive training in outdoor environmental work such as landscaping, planting, tree maintenance, coppicing, path building and pond clearance. The course gives young people the skills they need to get a first job in the environmental, landscaping or construction industries. Trainees are also supported to complete a national qualification, a City & Guilds in Land Based Studies.

The Green Team get involved in a wide variety of Groundwork projects, from maintaining cycle paths to building community gardens and trainees are also encouraged to learn more about the environmental sector. The programme gives young people the opportunity to develop both practical landscaping and environmental skills along with developing the other skills which employers demand. Participants receive guidance and support to understand the importance of regular attendance and good punctuality, communication skills, team-working, using initiative and problem solving.

At the end of their course, trainees take part in sessions that help them consider their future options, including CV writing, interview techniques, the availability of jobs in the sector and future training possibilities. Excellent support is provided in this regard by volunteers from the business community.

The project supports several LAA targets including: unpaid work that benefits community safety, community-based projects benefiting from unpaid work, young adult apprentices/volunteers achieving vocational qualifications and increasing the number of young people being trained for the construction sector. In addition, the project helps Connexions with its placement strategies.

The first 3 Green Teams have been extremely successful - in terms of attracting positive feedback (and repeat business!) from partners / customers (including County, District / Borough and Parish councils) and also by way of the number of participants who have moved into further training or full-time employment.

The current Green Team has an extraordinary work programme which includes landscaping work at the Building Research Establishment in advance of the Insite09 exhibition an appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show and a week's work helping to prepare a highly prestigious show garden for the Hampton Court Flower Show! All of which should help compile irresistible CV's!

Mind, Body & Soil programme
The Mind, Body and Soil programme is a series of horticultural therapy projects across the county, run in centres for people with mental health problems, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, the homeless and the elderly. At each project Groundwork sets up a vegetable garden and provides training over the course of a growing season, encouraging the group to learn about growing their own food with all of the health and well-being benefits that entails. In 2008 Groundwork secured funding from the National Lottery to run 3 Mind, Body and Soil projects each year for 3 years. For 2009 projects are underway at the Silkin Court Supported Housing for the Elderly in Stevenage, The Priory Grange – a centre for people with learning disabilities in Potters Bar and the St Lukes Special Needs School & Training Centre in Redbourne.

The Mind, Body & Soil programme is helping to meet a range of LAA targets including those relating to volunteering, physical exercise and rehabilitation.

Mind, Body and Soil has been hugely successful and we were delighted to learn recently that the 2008 project programme had been nominated as a finalist in the 2009 NHS East of England regional Health and Social Care Awards. We will find out at the ceremony on 20 May whether we have been victorious!


Groundwork is also a member of the 'Better Places to Live' partnership, one of the two new countywide LAA/ Sustainable Communities Strategy partnerships in the county.

If readers would like to learn more about Groundwork's activities please view our website and if you would like to discuss a potential project or whether the Green Team could help "change places" in your area (we normally require a contribution towards running costs plus the funding of any materials needed) please contact our Development Manager Cheryl Spain cheryl.spain@groundwork.org.uk Tel: 01707 255189 .