Within the 3SIG partnership, da21 is responsible for using the Big Lottery BASIS funding to deliver specialist support on environmental and sustainability services to Dorset’s third sector organisations. As a user-friendly label for use with community groups, da21 is calling this work its GreenAssist project.

The GreenAssist project has two roles:

1) General community groups:

GreenAssist will work with any community-based organisation that would like to make its operations more environmentally sustainable (or “environment-friendly”). With increasing public awareness about climate change and other environmental issues, many community groups may want to do their bit by limiting their own environmental impact, but may not know how to go about it. GreenAssist can help community groups to understand the issues and the ways they could help, from small changes like recycling paper or using locally sourced food in catering, to more complex efforts like insulating buildings or installing renewable energy systems. The project’s Sustainability Officers (Paul McIntosh and Susan Anders) can visit groups to talk with them and offer advice on:

• understanding climate change
• understanding carbon footprints
• simple changes to make a differe
• making more environmentally-friendly choicesnce
• ideas for saving money & sources of funding for ‘green’ initiatives.

Please tell any community group you work with about the help being offered by da21. There are fliers available and we would appreciate your assistance in distributing them to community groups.

2) Community groups in the environment & sustainability sector.

Some community-based groups work specifically on issues connected with the environment and sustainability. For example, new Transition Town groups that are springing up across Dorset.

There are also many other ‘green’ groups, such as those addressing issues like plastic bags or recycling, as well as more traditional groups like those helping to preserve their local green spaces or nature reserves and organisations like allotment associations and best kept village groups. These groups probably don’t need our advice on environmental issues, since they are already actively addressing them, but they may need help to do what they do more effectively. For example they may need funding for an idea but don’t know where to look for sources of cash or how to apply for it; they may need to borrow equipment for an event; or they may be looking specific training. Any of the many things that community groups need to function more effectively. GreenAssist can help these groups by giving advice, signposting to other sources of help, providing training and organising networking events so that the many “green” groups can share experiences, learn from each other and share resources.

If you work with, or know of, any community environmental groups, please tell them about the help available through da21’s GreenAssist project and give them our contact details, or let us know about them.

We are particularly interested in learning of small local groups which we may otherwise not get to hear about.
We know they must be out there and we would appreciate your help in finding them!

For more information please contact Susan Anders or Paul McIntosh on 01305 213721 or email susan@da21.org.uk or paul@da21.org.uk