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groundwork faq'S
A lot of people want to know know who Groundwork are and what we do. In order to answer this we've prepared a few FAQs about Groundwork generally and Groundwork in Derby & Derbyshire. If you have a question that is not answered here, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
What is Groundwork?
Groundwork is a federation of Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses in areas in need of investment and support.
What is the Groundwork 'Vision'?
Groundwork's vision is of a society made up of sustainable communities which are vibrant, healthy and safe, which respect the local and global environment and where individuals and enterprise prosper.
Who are Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire?
Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire are the Trust operating throughout the Derbyshire SSP area (see below); covering South Derbyshire, Derby City, Erewash, Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales and High Peak. We started in 1988 as Erewash Groundwork Trust, eventually we moved into Amber Valley and became Groundwork Erewash Valley. Finally, on October 16th 2006 we became Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire.
Are you part of the council?
No. However, Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire work very closely with all the local authorities throughout our area. As an independent organisation, we are able to access funding that councils cannot. We are also able to bring expertise and experience to projects that councils may not have themselves. Often we will act a as an 'honest broker' between councils and communities; finding out the needs of local people, so that councils can deliver what their communities need.
What is the SSP?
SSP stands for 'Strategic Subregional Partnership'. An SSP is a smaller part of the wider regional body, such as Government Office East Midlands, in our case. Our SSP is the Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership, or DDEP for short. It covers Amber Valley, Erewash, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, South Derbyshire and Derby City. The other Derbyshire authority areas of Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield fall into another SSP, which focusses on former coalfield areas. To find out more about DDEP and how the SSP works in this area, visit their website.
Our purpose is “to build sustainable communities through joint environmental action”. We achieve this by encouraging local people, local businesses and other organisations to become involved in practical projects that improve their quality of life, bring about regeneration and lay the foundations for sustainable development.
Each year we deliver hundreds of projects in neighbourhoods which are affected by high unemployment and crime levels, poor public health, run down housing and public spaces, waste ground and struggling businesses.
Our projects aim to improve things in three ways:
For People: create opportunities for people to learn new skills and take local action.
For Places: create better, safer and healthier neighbourhoods.
For Prosperity: helping businesses and individuals to fulfil their potential.
These projects are organised into local, regional and national programmes under the following headings: Communities, Land, Employment, Education, Business, Youth.
Where do we get our funding from?
We are successful in attracting funding from central government, local authorities, the private sector, national lottery, landfill tax credits, regeneration funding, charitable trusts and local organisations and people. Between 1993 and 2001 we secured £5,019,068, which has been invested into the local communities and economy by funding over 1200 projects.