SHEFFIELD ENVIRONMENT WEEKS 2008
The Sheffield Environment Weeks launch in Fargate was a great success. Formally opened by the Lord Mayor the 20 market stalls hosting a wide variety of groups attracted crowds throughout the day. The morris dancers entertained the public in beautiful May sunshine and a good time was had by all. Environment Weeks booklets are available at numerous outlets and details of this years events, including Green City Actions own, are available on the Environment Weeks website.
NEW YEAR HONOURS FOR GREEN CITY ACTION
On Friday 25th January 2008 Green City Action received an award at the Burngreave New Year Honours ceremony at the Town Hall. Our three local councillors, Jackie Drayton, Ibrar Hussain and Steve Jones together with MP's Richard Cabourn and David Blunket presented the awards in a packed out event. Green City Action were recognised as a long standing, hard working community organisation that works incredibly hard with the community to make Burngreave a better place to live. On receiving the award Garry Smith thanked the community for their continuing support and also recognised the important contribution of BNDfC and the Area Panel in helping GCA with its improvement of green spaces and community festivals and events.
In the last few years Green City Actions work has not gone unnoticed as we have received four other awards for our work.
• November 2004 we were winners of the BNDfC Community Cohesion Award from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
• January 2005 we received the Sheffield City Council Lord Mayors Quality Award for outstanding services to the residents of Sheffield
• January 2007 we received our second Sheffield City Council Lord Mayors Quality Award for outstanding services to the residents of Sheffield
• October 2007 GCA won the Community Category in the inaugural Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards
• January 2008 won an award from the Burngreave Area Panel for our outstanding contribution to the community.
GREEN CITY ACTION WIN SHEFFIELD TELEGRAPH ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY AWARD
Green City Action staff and trustees were present at the first ever Sheffield Telegraph Environment Awards at the Magna Centre on Wednesday 17th October. This proved to be a very special night as we scooped first prize in the Community Award section sponsored by Powerminster – Gleeson Services. The staff and chair of trustees were presented with a beautiful glass plaque that is now on display at our offices. Green City Action received more nominations than any other entry in all the different categories and our thanks go out to all of you who said such nice things about us. Our manager Garry Smith said “This awards is incredibly pleasing and reflects the hard work of trustees, staff, and our partners and volunteers. Green City Action has worked hard over many years to improve the Burngreave Area with great support from BNDfC and the Burngreave Area Panel and others. Winning awards like this shows that our work is valued and appreciated”. You can check out the Telegraph at sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk
"There were more nominations for Green City Action than anyone else in the awards, which says much about the work they do in the city. Melissa Grant, Programme Director of the Burngreave New Deal for Communitites Partnership said: "We believe Green City Action are worthy of an award because they are making a big difference to the environment of Burngreave by clearing and cleaning up neglected green space land and encouraging residents to become active in looking after their local environment. "They have also been helping OAPs maintain their gardens and demonstrate good working in partnership with other agencies, groups and projects. "We were impressed enough with their past achievements to grant further funding for their Deliver It Green project until June 2009.'' Jim Gilbert, 76th Sheffield Scout Troop leader, said: "Over the years they have had a major impact on improving Burngreave, not only in the work they have done but also by enthusing individuals and groups to get active in caring for their own gardens, streets and green spaces.'' Local resident Julie Pidd added: "Sites are cleared and planted up and the manager, Garry Smith, is always on the end of a phone if we have any queries. "Garry and his team have brought green to this area and extended our knowledge of our own environment.''
RAISE FUNDS FOR GCA AS YOU SHOP ONLINE
GCA has teamed up with www.easyfundraising.org.uk/gca who provide a free service where you can raise funds for BTCV and also save money when you shop online.
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/gca offers access to over 150 of the UK's biggest and best-known retailers – but with a difference. Simply use the links provided on their website when you shop online and up to 15% of your purchase price will be donated back to GCA, FREE of charge.
It doesn't cost you anything extra to shop and raise funds in this way and there are lots of popular retailers participating including; DELL, Amazon, HMV, Virgin, AOL, Dixons, Comet, PLAY.COM, Choices Direct, Esure, The AA, Direct Line, M&S, Churchill and The Carphone Warehouse amongst many others.
As well as raising funds you can also make personal savings. Many retailers give special offers and “not-available-in-store” discounts when you shop online – some of which are exclusive to easyfundraising members.
All you need to do is visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/gca start shopping. All funds raised will contribute to the future sustainability of Green City Action.
Why not raise funds for GCA whilst making purchases you would make anyway?
APPRENTICES SIGN ON
Green City Action has recruited two apprentice Green City Stewards to add to the growing Deliver It Green team. Denzil Ramsey and Nathan Richardson have joined the team and have been out working on site since the start of September. The apprenticeships are part funded by Apprenticeships 4 All and BNDfC.
Both local lads the will be completing an apprenticeship in Amenity Horticulture at local training provider Sheaf Training that will include NVQ Level 2 in horticulture, PA1/PA6 spraying licence, 1 day first aid course, 1 day H+S course, Keyskills, 4 of, which consist of maths, english, working with others and improve own learning. This is part of our ongoing commitment to developing the local economy, six of our stewards are Burngreave residents and the seventh was born and brought up in the area.
Green City Action is your local community organisation delivering real environmental improvements in Burngreave.
GREEN CITY ENTERPRISES
Green City Action and Southey and Owlerton Regeneration (SOAR) have launched their Joint Venture Company, Green City Enterprises Ltd.
Green City Enterprises is a joint venture between Southey & Owlerton Area Regeneration (SOAR) Enterprises and Green City Action (GCA). It is a company limited by shares and will be a trading company undertaking soft and hard landscaping and site maintenance.
Green City Enterprises is a Social Enterprise – The Government Office of the Third Sector defines Social Enterprises as “businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.”
Green City Enterprises offers soft and hard landscaping services, grounds maintenance and gardening services. Recent clients have included Parks and Countryside, Sheffield Homes, Sheffield United FC, Keepmoat PLC, Youth Offending Team, Green Estates, Euro Tree Services and a number of private households.
