Newsletter - May 2012Registered Charity Number: 1121105

For more information please contact Groundwork London:

020 7922 1230

shabaz.ferozdin@groundwork.org.uk

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Celebrating Success

The London Climate Change Youth Ambassadors programme is part of Johnson Controls’ Conservation Leadership Corps, a global initiative that focuses on the company’s values of environmental stewardship, leadership development and diversity to develop local youth and to make a positive impact on local communities worldwide with partners such as Groundwork London.

Johnson Controls Inc. have been working with Groundwork London over the last three years to develop exciting and innovative volunteering programmes to benefit young people. During this time, over 300 young people have participated in a sustained volunteering programme, developing their skills and aspirations, at the same time as raising awareness about climate change and pro-environmental behaviour in the communities where they live, study and work. All the individuals involved have developed their personal and social skills and had the opportunity to shine.

Groundwork London would like to thank everyone associated with the development and roll out of the Climate Change Youth Ambassadors programme – the inspirational young people involved, the participating local authorities and other local partners. Finally, and most importantly, Johnson Controls Inc. themselves and their staff from across the UK and US that have given up their time to support the programme and those involved. This newsletter provides a summary of the activities undertaken by the young people over the past 12 months.

PartnershipsThroughout the programme, ambassadors were exposed to sustainability issues. They visited Deutsche Bank and Marks & Spencer to learn how they run sustainable businesses.

Deutsche Bank

Climate Change Youth Ambassador group representatives visited Deutsche Bank for a Sustainability Day in April, together with staff from Johnson Controls Inc. They learnt about how global companies Deutsche Bank and Johnson Controls Inc. play their part in addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. The day started with a tour around the City Headquarters which included the trading floor and art collection.

The young people then gave presentations about their experiences and successes of volunteering on the programme, articulating how their projects are making a positive difference in their communities and their own lives, and the direction they would like their project to travel in the future. A major part of the event was to look at participating staff

employment journeys. With a rich vain of international talent in the room, the young people were able to hear first hand how the staff found their way into their respective fields. This was a tremendously motivating session for the young people who learnt about the importance of working hard to get results.

Groundwork London would like to thank Johnson Controls Inc. for creating the opportunity for the Ambassadors, and especially to Deutsche Bank and their staff for hosting the visit.

Marks & Spencer

In July 2011 the Climate Change Youth Ambassadors visited the flagship Marks & Spencer store in Marble Arch for a presentation and tour. The day enabled the young people to learn about their policies surrounding the environment, climate change and sustainability.

“Seeing how M&S run their business sustainably was inspiring to the young people and gave them a lot to think about.”Jacqueline McNee, Youth Co-ordinator

North LondonComedy Night Success

Over 200 guests had a laugh at the Climate Change Ambassadors Comedy Night ‘Don’t Leave Me Turned On’, held at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham on Friday 3 February. The climate change awareness-raising evening of comedy and entertainment organised entirely by the Ambassadors featured Choice FM DJ and comedian Eddie Kadi who performed a set alongside comedian Paul Chowdhry and music supplied by DJ Julie from Rinse FM and local band Empire Sounds.

The hugely successful evening was attended by Mayor Councillor Gina Adamou and Councillor Joe Goldberg, who leads on carbon reduction strategies at the London Borough of Haringey. The young people also hosted representatives who they have developed relationships with from Friends of the Earth, Haringey 40:20 and Homes for Haringey. Group member Leigh Matthews premiered

her own short film on climate change that she produced, educating guests on the changes they can make to reduce their environmental impact.

One of the aims of the evening was to raise awareness about climate change and the group were delighted that 100 people signed a pledge to unplug their mobile chargers and computers when they aren’t in use.

In preparing for and planning the event, the group learnt many new

skills including event planning and management, budgeting, procurement, Final Cut Pro, editing, programming, commissioning, publicity, marketing and digital communications and evaluation.

Nearly £300 was raised for Friends of the Earth, Phasca, The Haringey Play Association and Groundwork London.

Ambassadors Angels

Programme participants Chris Offiah, Nigel Nyamutenha and Yomi Ajilore have successfully set up their own business called Angel Media. Chris and Nigel met Yomi through the project. Their new venture offers film and photography services including film making, photography, video editing, music videos and filming for events, as well as promoting new music artists. They attended a Final Cut Pro course in addition to last year’s BBC media courses and People and Planet campaigning course, that provided them with skills and confidence to establish the business.

Impact

The group agreed that they learnt new skills and a lot about climate change locally and globally and have all adapted their behaviour as a result.

Global Warming

Leigh Matthews plans to go to Brazil and make a documentary about climate change as a result of the programme. She said: "The work I've done with Groundwork really inspires me to get involved and make changes and I'm now looking to spread my wings and make changes outside of my own community."

“The comedy night was a fantastic success and we are so proud of the young people for organising the event and raising awareness of climate change in their community.”Judy Hallgarten, Youth Project Coordinator

East London 20 young people participated in the project from East London.

Environmental Regeneration

The ambassadors completed their work on a regeneration project to improve the outdoor space on Linzell Estate in Hackney and change it into a forest garden. This is part of Transform, core to

the London 2012

Changing Places programme, an initiative which aims to support communities in the Olympic Host Boroughs to secure social and environmental benefits as a legacy of the Games. Groundwork London and the London Sustainability Exchange received funding from Defra and SITA Trust to transform 45 areas of derelict land in the Olympic Host Boroughs and encourage people to live more sustainably.

Over the past few months the volunteers worked with residents

and undertook activities

including building raised beds, litter picking and distributing flyers about climate change. The main aim for volunteers was to engage their peers onto the project and to raise awareness of recycling and waste. The volunteers were able to work with estate residents to raise awareness of climate change and

help bring the community together.

Part of the project was to also devise a community mural to compliment the garden. Working with a community artist the young people white washed the walls and designed the mural.

The students attended the open day for the garden on 13 February, where they had an opportunity to discuss what they have done in the garden and to speak to local residents about the project.

Residents on the estate were very enthusiastic about having a group of young people on the project not only to make a change to the space, but to also empower other local young people to take an interest in their community.

Evaluation

Finally, as the project is drawing to a natural conclusion, the young people interviewed each other to find out their views about their involvement in the project and why they decided to volunteer.

rm...…a London 2012 Changing Places Initiative

West London Achievements

Groundwork engaged with 46 young people in Brent across three groups: Impact from Claremont High School, Team Green West from Capital City Academy and Brent Youth Volunteers from Alperton Community School.

They were able to use the hours they spent volunteering as part of their volunteering recognition at school and as part of their citizenship. Impact and Team Green West focussed on raising awareness of climate change in their communities and schools.

IKEA

Team Green West organised an event at IKEA Wembley on 5 February where they got shoppers

to make environmental pledges They spoke to customers about climate change and asked them to think about what actions they could undertake to lower their carbon footprint. They directed and produced a film about the event.

They promoted responsible action to customers and the film will be shown at school, to demonstrate how young people are able to make a difference in their communities. The project increased their confidence and they were able to learn new skills, such as filming and directing.

Brent Youth Volunteers

Brent Youth Volunteers spent one Saturday each month at local parks, organising clean up activities, planting and undertaking activities to improve nature conservation.

They took part in an environmental volunteering day at Wormwood Scrubs Local Nature Reserve in Hammersmith and Fulham in March, planting viburnum to improve the habitat for local wildlife and removing snowberry, poisonous for humans.

They built bird boxes and feeders to create a habitat for birds in Brent River Park. Being involved in this project has enabled the young people to learn more about conservation and respecting the natural world.

Climate Change Pavillion

Brent Youth Volunteers contributed to the design of the

Climate Change Pavilion, a new outdoor classroom structure in

Brent River Park that was opened by three Brent councillors on

22 March. The group participated in sessions on renewable energy which led to the production of a cartoon display board about wind power being produced and installed next

to the park’s wind turbine. They also held

an Environment Day on 24 March where they undertook a community litter pick.

“The programme

has been a success

and we have had

a positive reaction

from the community.

Being an Ambassador

has given me the

opportunity to

learn about climate

change, teamwork

and increased my

confidence.”Sead Dizdarevic,

Volunteer, 17

South East LondonSouth East

The group was made up of 13 young people who engaged in this project, alongside going to college and working part-time.

Through the Original Green sustainable t-shirts project, Ambassadors learnt how to plan, manage and deliver a project and learnt skills including budgeting, and purchasing.

Pitch to Marks & Spencer

With the help from South West group, the volunteers made a presentation and pitched the t-shirts they designed to Marks & Spencer buyers. Through planning and working with mentors Groundwork Director Ben Coles and successful business woman Stevie Spring, Chair of BBC’s Children in Need, the young people put together a well thought through pitch. They broke down the meaning of Original Green focussing on Original being unique and Green relating to their garments’ materials and message.

Despite not being successful, Marks & Spencer offered to help the young people work on their pitch so that they would be ready to pitch to other companies with a more relevant target market and be part of the Climate Fairtrade week 2013 with the aim to sell their products online with Marks & Spencer.

Market Stall

The group continue to sell their Original Green t-shirts to the public. They were given the opportunity to sell at a stall in Lower Marsh Market, Waterloo during February half term. Even though the weather was not great, the group stuck at it and made some sales.

originalgreen

“I have learnt presentation skills and

about how to improve

our t-shirts.I think this project has been

fulfilling.” Ismael Sadiq,18

South West LondonThere were a core group of 14 Climate Change Youth Ambassadors who were involved in a range of projects throughout the year. They learnt about the environment and have been communicating their concerns about climate change to the local community and encouraging them to make changes to their lifestyle to become more environmentally friendly.

Reach Out at Sainsbury’s

On Friday evening 23 March, the South West London Climate Change Youth Ambassadors were at the Sainsbury’s Savacentre in Colliers Wood to share their climate change knowledge and environmental concerns with the local community. The 13-19 year olds set up an information stall and engaged with shoppers to share their knowledge and ideas about reducing environmental impacts and mitigating climate change with the community. Shoppers received a free ‘Cool It’ bag full of advice and devices to help them save energy at home.

The group shared their knowledge and ideas about reducing environmental impacts and mitigating climate change with the community. They encouraged shoppers to commit to making environmental changes by signing pledges that included saving energy and water, buying local or fairtrade produce, making fewer journeys by car and environmental volunteering. They administered questionnaires on how much the public know about climate change. 80 people completed the questionnaire and in return received a free Cool It bag packed with gifts for greener living.

Cool It

The young people designed a “Cool It” group logo and created branded t-shirts, keyrings and bags. They produced promotional Cool It rucksacks as giveaways, inside which they inset a starter kit of how to go green for free that inclues a Thames Water shower timer and a leaflet to complete to order more energy-

saving products including a shower head, save a flush and wash basin tap inserts.

Celebration

The group marked the end of the year with their choice of a trip to Nandos, using the money that went towards their kitty for every new member they introduced to the project. They have also applied for Youth Bank funding for a team building trip and to help pay for materials for the Cool It bags. One application was successful, and they have the opportunity to apply again.

“I feel this has been a once

in a lifetime opportunity

and I have developed

self confidence and time

management skills. I have

learnt about to help the

environment, protect the

earth and raise awareness

amongst young people

about climate change. This

is an amazing project!”

Ehsaan Ahmad, 15