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the peak & dales team

Groundwork has developed a number of new projects across High Peak Borough and Derbyshire Dales District and has extended the coverage of some of its existing programmes of work into the area including Creative Media and Land. Groundwork aims to engage local communities, local businesses and other organisations to become involved in practical projects that improve quality of life, bring about regeneration and lay the foundations for sustainable development.

Tidy Business Standard (Glossop): In 2004 Groundwork worked on behalf of High Peak Borough Council to engage local food retailers in a programme of waste reduction. This used the Encams model which resulted in awards to retailers. The Borough Council has built upon this with the ‘Food on the Go’ initiative.

Paws for Thought Video and ‘Tidy Glossop’ Poster Competition: In 2004/5 the Creative Media team worked with the ‘Hands on’ youth project of Glossop Volunteer Bureau to film a video to raise awareness of the dangers of dropping litter. The winning story board was of a dog cutting its paw on broken glass. The video has since been sent into schools in Glossopdale. The Primary Schools in Glossopdale were involved with the anti-litter campaign through a poster competition on the subject of ‘Tidy Glossop’.

Skills for Life: In 2005, eight young people worked with Groundwork on a ‘Skills for Life’ programme. They were referred to us by Connexions to develop work-ready skills (e.g. communication, team working, reliability etc) which they did through a programme of environmental conservation work which we developed in Glossop.

High Peak Volunteer Rangers: Since spring 2005 Groundwork has been supporting Volunteer Rangers in High Peak initially funded through the Government’s ‘Liveability’ initiative in Glossop, but extended to cover the whole of High Peak from September 2005 working on behalf of, and in partnership with, High Peak Borough Council.

High Peak Volunteer Rangers are volunteers who choose to give some of their time and effort to make High Peak a better place, with a particular emphasis on (but not exclusively) tackling town 'grot spots'. The Rangers are given support and training to carry out a range of environmental improvements.

Rangers carry out a variety of tasks including drystone walling, joinery, litter picks, pruning, clearing public paths, renovating stone raised beds and planting schemes. Groundwork has engaged a wide range of people from the local community including school pupils, local residents and community groups. In Glossopdale alone during 2005/6 Groundwork involved over 260 people, (volunteers, young people and school children) on a range of projects. Teams of volunteers are also being developed in Whaley Bridge, New Mills, Chapel en le Frith and Buxton.

Other Community Environmental Projects: A Community Food Project has been delivered in Wirksworth showing how to grow healthy food and raising awareness of healthy eating; and a Wild Spaces project is supporting community involvement in two green spaces in Derbyshire Dales.

Derbyshire Dales District Council: Groundwork’s Land Team is working with DDDC and local communities to replace the play equipment in Ashbourne and Bakewell parks.

In addition Groundwork’s Rural Derbyshire Team Manager is working with Derbyshire Dales District Council’s Leisure Services section to develop a Play Strategy. This will enable the Council to bid for £200,000 of Lottery funding to develop play infrastructure from 2007.

NEW WORK UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Denefields, Matlock: From October 2006 we will be developing a project based in Matlock to involve local people as volunteers to bring about environmental improvements in the green space known as Denefields. Initially, this involve developmental work once a week, with a view to expanding the scope of the project in future years.

Peak District National Park: The work of Groundwork meets a number of the sustainability aims of the Peak District National Park. We are working to develop several initiatives of mutual interest which will be promoted in due course.

Derbyshire County Council – Countryside Service: Groundwork has been asked to consider a number of areas of work which contribute to the aims of Derbyshire County Council and its Countryside Service. Details will be available shortly