Member Article

Groundwork NE & Cumbria stamps its identity on AGM as it unveils year of achievement

Social enterprise Groundwork NE & Cumbria has demonstrated its mission to enhance places where people live, work and play by holding an AGM with an allotments theme.

Milestones and achievements during 2013/14 were outlined to the annual meeting held at Groundwork’s Greenhouse offices, at Greencroft Industrial Estate, Annfield Plain, County Durham.

These included:

Delivering 350 projects across the region working with some of the most disadvantaged communities and individuals

Assisting 806 adults and young people to gain qualifications Helping 422 people into jobs Providing 1,771 weeks of training Planting 19,516 trees Improving 1,439,477 sq metres of land – this is the equivalent to the size of 204 football stadia. Maintaining 3,486,495 sq metres of land Diverting 1,881 tonnes of waste from landfill Supporting 243 schools, 426 businesses and 451 community groups

The AGM venue was decorated with. wheelbarrows, wellies, bunting, and fruit and vegetables, grown at Groundwork’s Gateshead Central Nursery and trees from its from Butterwick Nursery in County Durham.

Those attending the AGM were given the opportunity to take the fruit and veg home in exchange for a donation with the money raised going to be re-invested in the Gateshead nursery.

There also were presentations showcasing the benefits of using the environment for improvement to physical and mental health and the Galvanise green team programme, which involves ex-offenders working on environmental improvement projects and ground maintenance contracts.

Kate Culverhouse, Groundwork NE & Cumbria Chief Executive, said “The fantastic achievements during the last 12 months are testament to the enthusiasm, hard work and dedication of our 165 staff and 120 volunteers.

“In collaboration with partners and stakeholders, we have been able to improve people’s employment prospects, enhance neighbourhoods and environments, and promote greener living and working.

“The aim of an allotment-themed AGM was to visually demonstrate some of Groundwork’s characteristics, show how we like to do things a little differently and how our projects include horticultural training programmes.”

Partnership is key to Groundwork NE & Cumbria achieving its goals and as a result, it works in collaboration with private companies, local communities, public bodies, housing associations and voluntary sector organisations.

The aims of its projects included assisting businesses to improve their green credential and reduce their environmental impact, increasing people’s employment prospects and potential, improving the quality of residents’ lives, and helping regenerate and enhance the neighbourhoods where they live, work and play.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .