Communities in United Kingdom
Green Community initiative
GOOD PRACTICE TITLE: MSHA’s use of “Green Community initiative” to promote environmental awareness
KIND OF PRACTICE: Ecology
DOCUMENT AUTHOR (ORGANIZATION AND AUTHOR NAME):
Mary Seacole Housing Association, Lennox Adams
PLACE: Luton
CONTEXT, FIELD OF INTERVENTION:
Green Community initiative developed from a European project designed to engage communities to adopt practices that reduce the human impact on the environment, especially in areas where humans live in close proximity. The initiative benefited society in the following ways:
• By encouraging awareness of a “green community” in which we can record (by various means) the interrelationships between humans and the environment
• by being more aware of pollutants and human activities that cause pollution
• by reducing pollution in the environment through the recycling of domestic waste
• promoting the understanding of important global environmental issues, especially, global warming and climate change and their possible effects
• by encouraging increased self-sufficiency
PERIOD:
May 2013 - present
POPULATION, PARTICIPANTS:
MSHA
COORDINATORS:
MSHA
METHODOLOGY (HOW THE PRACTICE WORKS):
The methodology required the following:
• needs survey and needs analysis of the people’s understanding of “green community”
• a study of comprehension of “sustainable environment”, “environmentally friendly lifestyle”, “lifelong learning”, “carbon footprint” and “developing stronger communities”
• where there is a shortfall in comprehension, some leaching/learning/training activity had to take place, located in the community and carried out by the community
• the results of findings and an expansion of the message to be disseminated at public events
• the creation of some permanent legacy in the community as an expression of “green community aims
PARTICIPATORY PROCESS:
All MSHA staff and clients had to play a role in the initiative. For clients under 19 years of age, the initiative was compulsory as part of tier agreement.
TIME TO BE SUCCESFUL (HOW MANY TIME THE PRACTICE TAKE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES):
Each client had to participate in one of the legacies, such as:
• developing allotment to be used by MSHA clients or staff
• rehabilitating or developing a garden or a community space
• learning how to grow and use home-produce fruit and vegetables in a long-term training course
• promoting the concept of “green community” by engaging the general public
• working with volunteers
the client need only participate in one or more aspect of the initiative.
VALIDITY (IF THE PARTICIPANTS THINK THAT THE PRACTICE RESOLVED THE PROBLEMATIC):
The initiative requires constant reinforcement. Many clients and staff were happy to play a role, which continues today in the form of recycling and combating food waste.
IMPACT:
The impact of the initiative is visible, in that:
• all hostels use colour coded waste bins for recycling waste
• each client’s room is complete with a waste disposal kit
• there is less food waste
• clients talk about environmental matters and challenge others when they see blatant disregard for the environment
• “green community” is part of the MSGA curriculum
INNOVATION:
The innovation include:
• re-introducing clients to the natural environment
• getting clients to look at the man-made environment in a light of responsibility
• getting clients to produce some of their own food
• showing clients the importance of “thinking globally but acting locally”
RESOURCES OR CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE PRACTICE:
In understanding community influences, the following were used:
• gardens at MSHA properties
• contact with local government offices
• links with environmental and land use charities
In understanding a global topic, easy-read booklets were produced, entitled:
• What is the difference between weather and climate?
• What is climate?
• What is global warming?
• What is climate change?
LIMITATIONS:
Having created the allotments and growing crops, clients did not want to prepare meals using their crops because they thought they could only use fruit and vegetables from the supermarket. Clients had to be show how to wash their foods leading up to cooking and preserving demonstrations.
LEARNED LESSONS: :
The initiative requires long-term commitment and planning. Some clients required 1 year to grasp the concept of growing, preparing and preserving foods.
Some activities were long-term, e.g. tree crops, which too longer than the client’s stay at MSHA. It was easier to break down activities into seasonal practices, e.g. you do not have to see the fruit growing to know when to pick and how to store or preserve picked fruits.
SUSTAINABILITY:
The initiatives is sustainable at different scales. Small scale, with crops grown in pots is the simplest and most attractive format. The development of allotments and greenhouses requires long-term investment and trained staff.
REPLICABILITY:
The initiative is easy to repeat and lends itself to be adapted for all age groups.
CONCLUSION:
“Green Community” initiative has proved useful in:
• testing, adapting and employing environment sustainability for educational purposed;
• promoting sustainable, environmental-friendly and healthy lifestyle in local communities
• stimulating active citizenship and participatory approach in developing and supporting local communities;
• decreasing the carbon print of MSHA clients, especially during the training phases;
• promoting lifelong learning through attractive and creative environmental–friendly teaching methods.
The initiative focused on two areas, namely:
- enhancing opportunities for mutual learning and competences, and
- promoting non-formal learning through participation and promotion of eco-friendly attitudes in groups of clients at the local level.
By focusing on local communities the initiative creates an opportunity for clients to apply what they have learnt in the fight against pollution and climate change by: recycling of equipment, investing in eco-friendly materials, garbage distribution. Their activities has had a positive impact on local welfare and micro society by promoting sustainable way of living in a wider group of the society.