GROUNDWORK

WHO WE ARE
GROUNDWORK Leeds helps people and organisations make changes in order to
create better neighbourhoods, to build skills and job prospects and to live and work in a greener way. We create projects and services that benefit both people and the wider environment. A registered charity, we run hundreds of individual projects and initiatives each year to change places and lives across Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees. We are part of the Federation of Groundwork Trusts.

WHAT WE DO
Our work sits within five main themes:

COMMUNITY WORK YOUNG PEOPLE

Helping people become active citizens and improve the places they live

Helping people into employment through training, work placements and volunteering

SKILLS, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

IMPROVING OPEN SPACES

Improving public green spaces, gardens, play areas and sports facilities

Motivating and developing young people, and encouraging them to learn more about the environment

GREENER LIVING & WORKING

Helping individuals, schools and organisations tackle climate change

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GET IN TOUCH
0113 238 0601 leeds@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds
Groundwork Leeds @GroundworkLeeds
Registered Charity: 518154

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community work
Groundwork helps people become active citizens and improve the
places they live. We inspire communities to become involved in their local area by giving them a voice and supporting them to turn their ideas into real changes from regenerating a neglected green space to tackling anti-social behaviour. We develop projects that bring together people from different backgrounds and age groups, helping nurture a sense of community. We help people to adopt healthier lifestyles by becoming more active or growing their own food. We help people gain new skills and experience to help them into training and employment. We can also signpost people towards groups or other support services in their neighbourhoods.

community work
Examples of the services we offer to communities include: Community engagement and consultation Improving open spaces Initiatives to increase community safety and reduce anti-social behaviour Organising and running community events Supporting established community groups and helping set up new groups Youth engagement projects and diversionary activities Skills and training initiatives Gardening and food growing workshops Community clean-ups and planting events Allotment programmes Volunteering opportunities Guided walks Fundraising assistance Corporate volunteering community support days

contact

John Cummins, Communities Team Leader 0113 238 0601 jcummins@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds

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SKILLS TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

GROuNdwORK provides an inclusive and supportive environment for
people to develop the skills and experience necessary for employment. We focus primarily on tackling worklessness with young people not in education, employment and training (NEETs). We run practical courses and programmes (usually in horticulture, countryside management, landscape construction, or art and media), that provide people with hands-on experience and the opportunity to gain qualifications. We also help increase peoples chances of gaining employment through providing work placements, literacy and numeracy qualifications, and supporting them to explore further education, training or employment options such as CV writing, job shops and interview skills.

SKILLS TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

Examples of our provision include: Foundation Learning and NEET programmes preparing young people aged 16-19 for employment or further education/ training. Participants gain handson experience, develop new skills, work towards qualifications, and receive advice and support on next steps. Employment programmes real work experience for young unemployed people, plus jobsearch and CV support. Alternative curriculum sessions practical school-based activities for young people aged 14-16 who have disengaged and are at risk of becoming NEET. Volunteering numerous opportunities available for people of all ages and levels of experience (visit our website for more information and an application form).

cONTAcT
Paula Hinsley, Opening Opportunities Manager 0113 238 0601 paula.hinsley@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds

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YOUNG PEOPLE
GrOUNdwOrk helps young people to take an active role in their
schools and communities by providing a range of learning experiences linked to the environment, which can also have positive effects on their confidence and self-esteem. We provide a range of projects and services for both primary and secondary schools which help young people develop an understanding of their influence on the planet, and often gets them outdoors exploring the local natural environment. We work with secondary schools to provide alternative curriculum activities, providing at risk young people with positive experiences, allowing them to build skills and move forward with education or training. For unemployed young people outside the formal education system we provide programmes of training to build their skills and experience and help them into employment.

YOUNG PEOPLE
Examples of projects we run with young people include:

Environmental education programmes:

Green Check - a comprehensive programme to help schools work towards becoming sustainable schools. Forest Schools - an innovative programme transporting the curriculum from the classroom to the great outdoors. Growing projects - involving young people in creating dedicated school growing areas. Junior Wardens - getting young people aged 8-14 active in their communities through a range of environmental and entrepreneurial activities.

Alternative curriculum sessions practical school-based activities for young people aged 14-16 who have disengaged and are at risk of becoming NEET (group sessions or one-to-one) Employment and training programmes - a range of programmes to help over 16s into employment.

cONtact

Will Gore, Senior Climate Change Co-ordinator 0113 238 0601 will.gore@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds

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GreeNer LIVING & WOrKING

GrOuNdWOrK helps individuals, schools and organisations to take
practical action against the effects of climate change. Out in the community we help to change behaviours and limit personal environmental impacts, through encouraging walking and cycling, and promoting local, healthy, home grown food. Our Green Doctor service helps residents save energy and money on their fuel bills, through free advice and simple energy saving measures. Meanwhile, our Environmental Business Services team provides advice, support and training to organisations to help them analyse and improve their environmental performance and save money.

GreeNer LIVING & WOrKING

Examples of projects and services include: Allotment programmes Food growing workshops Environmental education programmes Climate change awareness Green Doctor - free home energy saving advice and practical measures Environmental Business Services advice, support and training to make businesses greener and more profitable Sustainable design, including:

Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) Community gardens Outdoor classrooms and growing areas Play areas Cob ovens Guided walks

cONtact
Emily Thompson, Partnerships & Development Manager 0113 238 0601 emily.thompson@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds

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IMPROVING OPEN SPACES

Neighbourhood green spaces are vital to our everyday quality of life, but are often neglected and can attract crime. They need to be well designed and made relevant to the needs of local people so that they become well used, loved and valued.

GROuNdwORks teams of landscape architects, landscape contractors

and community co-ordinators work with local people to create or improve their community gardens, parks, play areas, footpaths and other natural spaces.

We also help to create activities to put land back to use, such as sport and exercise schemes or food growing.

IMPROVING OPEN SPACES

Examples include:

Community gardens Play areas Community allotments Public woodlands Footpaths and cycleways Skate parks Multi-use games areas Alley-gating and homezones Urban design and masterplanning Public art School grounds: Outdoor classrooms Growing areas Nature trails Ponds

CONtACt
Julianne Tate, Places Manager 0113 238 0601 jtate@groundwork.org.uk www.groundwork.org.uk/leeds