Environment & Education
The environmental team aims to develop and deliver environmental schemes and initiatives through working with sectors of the community including schools, community groups, nurseries, youth groups, local businesses and housing associations. The team provides free guidance and advice on all aspects of environmental project development including creating ideas, fundraising, landscape design, waste management and recycling and energy reduction plus assisting on practical improvements to local greenspace. Through the use of environmental education and training opportunities the team aims to increase awareness and employment opportunities within the field.
Work of the environmental team includes:
- Creating and leading fun hands on activities to raise awareness with young people using photography, opinion surveys, games, trips and visits plus lots more
- Organising clean ups for groups and centres to improve the environment for the whole community
- Providing practical environmental projects including tree planting, seed planting, garden building and environmental art
- Working in partnership with others to create a sustainable environment
- Assisting and managing environmental projects through partnerships working
- Hard and soft landscaping
- Providing a training programme for young people
- Active Schools Programme
For advice and information on getting involved in improving the environment of your community please contact Marie Clare McLinden. By Telephone: 0141 781 2023 or Email: mmclinden@gera.org.uk
Below is just one example of the sort of work we do and what we can offer you, the local community.
Case Study: Dalmarnock Community Centre
Alongside the Clean Glasgow campaign the youth group from Dalmarnock Community Centre along with youth workers from Urban Fox and Dalmarnock Youth Project to help clean up the grounds surrounding the youth centre.
Glasgow City council provided bags and litter pickers to enable everyone to collect as much rubbish as they could and everyone worked hard and had great fun on the night.
Litter and graffiti has become a problem around the centre and the young people decided to take action against it by carrying out a clean up. By taking responsibility for their centre they are creating a cleaner and better environment for their centre. They hope that as the commonwealth games are going to be in the area the community will be able to use the centre and see it as a focal point.
The centre is being used more and more and will the community is encouraged to enter will its new clean exterior. The group haven’t stopped there as they have been involved in a series of themed workshops to raise their awareness of the environment. Themes include energy efficiency games, creating clay bugs, insects and habitats plus creating art from recycled materials.