SUSTAINABLE REGENERATION
Funding in this new category aims to bring together the themes of social exclusion and environmentally sustainable development in ways which can help local communities make the most of their resources and develop new skills and competencies. In many cases projects will reflect the themes of the trust’s environmental work such as the promotion of cycling or sustainable agriculture, and its work with people at risk, including support for employment and enterprise.
We are keen to support projects which link people to nature and the natural environment in a variety of ways. This year we have funded a number of schemes which link fresh food and nutrition to exclusion and regeneration such as Leicestershire Food Link’s work with primary schools to introduce an holistic approach to food involving curriculum based education on cooking and growing and a new approach to school meals within the kitchen.
The trust has continued its support for the Paddington Farm Trust in Somerset and for Cycling Projects in Manchester, both of which support community groups to work with young and disadvantaged people and to provide fun activities with elements of education, sustainability and health.
The Environment and Social Inclusion
- Cycling Projects (organisational support over a period of six years)
Cycling Projects in Manchester took on a long-term piece of work the trust had initiated with the London School of Economics looking at the links between cycling and social inclusion and developing projects which demonstrated the benefits of cycling for socially disadvantaged communities. Cycling Projects now runs the Bike Links project which supports cycling groups to develop sustainable projects involving disadvantaged groups (particularly young people) in cycling activities.
http://cpnw.newcomweb.demon.com/ - Paddington Farm Trust (organisational support over a period of four years)
Paddington Farm Trust owns a 40 acre farm near Glastonbury in Somerset. It is organically certified and houses chickens, goats, an organic herd of cattle and a market garden. Visitors to the farm can benefit from the hands-on learning experience of running a farm. Accommodation prices allow low-income visitors, particularly from Paddington and Westminster in London, to use the farm as an escape from the city and to enjoy the countryside.
http://www.paddingtonfarm.co.uk/ - Baby G.R.O.E (grant support over a period of two years)
Baby G.R.O.E was established in 2002 by two new mothers who were concerned by the lack of information and support available to mums wishing to bring their babies up ‘naturally’ using ethical, environmentally friendly products and services. In 2003 they published the first edition of their small, regional magazine which details local outlets, producers and providers. It is now distributed nationally to over 400,000 pregnant women and mothers by a network of midwives. Ashden provided support towards Baby G.R.O.E’s development plans.
http://www.babygroe.co.uk/ - Canopy Housing Project (organisational support over a period of nine years)
Beeston is a traditional back-to-back area in South Leeds. Once home to the city’s textile and engineering workers now it houses a rich variety of people from many different ethnic communities. The Doorstep project is a self-build project to help people to stay in their locality, by renovating property in lieu of rent, then through renting it back from Canopy once it is restored and thus transforming declining housing for a safer and regenerated community, especially those whose footing in society is less secure. Canopy is one of a number of self-build community landlords forming a comprehensive community regeneration network across inner city Leeds, preventing the loss of an historic built environment and enabling the most vulnerable to continue to make a home in it.
Sustainable Food Networks
- Leicestershire Food Links (project support over a period of two years)
LFL is a community enterprise formed in 1999 by farmers, community organisations, Local Authorities and individuals to bring locally sourced, fresh food to the widest possible audience. We have been supporting the Better Produce in Our Schools project which provides an educational programme of activities for primary schools wishing to address the issue of food holistically. Schools are supported to grow vegetables at school and at home, to take part in farm visits and to use the theme of food throughout the curriculum in addition to using locally sourced food in their canteen.
http://www.leicestershirefoodlinks.org.uk/ - Fare Share (project support over a period of two years)
Fare Share began as a project run by Crisis with leading food retailers, notably J Sainsbury, to ensure that surplus food approaching its sell-by date was not dumped in landfill but made available to those in need in care institutions and on the streets. This simple idea for corporate social responsibility has gone from strength to strength and in 2004 Fare Share became a charity in its own right, saving 2,000 tonnes of food, 13,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and contributing 3.3 million nutritious meals to 12,000 people in 300 organisations across the country. Ashden’s grant supports the Eat Well Roadshows, training partner agencies’ catering staff and volunteers in nutrition, budget and diet planning.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/ - Mull & Iona Community Trust (project support over a period of two years)
The Mull & Iona Community Trust works to maintain the unique way of life on the islands by promoting sustainable development. We are supporting the Green Futures Programme which promotes local island produce and provides sustainable employment in local food production, processing and marketing in an environmentally sustainable manner.
http://www.mict.co.uk/
