EverGreen EcoTeams

“The EverGreen project is the best resident engagement project that I have been involved in”
Gavin Cansfield, Director: Strategy and Improvement of Hanover

Background
The EverGreen EcoTeams project is a partnership between Global Action Plan and Hanover housing association. Hanover manages 29 retirement and extra care supported living schemes across the London Borough of Hackney for 850 tenants of pensionable age The project was set up in response to requests from resident board members who wanted, through a range of stimulating sociable activities, to be able to contribute positively towards the environment.

Global Action Plan set up training workshops for Hanover staff and Sheltered Housing Officers in which the potential benefits and challenges of the initiative were discussed and integrated into the project. Residents were then consulted and formed into 'EcoTeams', in which they could discuss issues surrounding water, waste, energy, shopping, transport and ways in which behaviour might be altered in order to lessen environmental impact. Their discussions led to a considerable increase in practical activity in the following areas:

Recycling
EcoTeam members wanted to make sure they had adequate recycling facilities and that they fully understood how to use them. Working with the Recycling team from the London Borough of Hackney (LBH), Global Action Plan ensured that facilities were installed.  We also enlisted LBH's Recycling Officer, who attended EcoTeam meetings to answer residents' questions.

“I enjoy recycling and take real pleasure from putting the items into the boxes. It's also good for the area and reduces the amount of rubbish on the streets” Mrs. Elfreda Samuels, Hanover resident 

Growing own food
Concerned about food miles and wasteful packaging, residents reminisced in their discussions about ways they used to grow vegetables which did not impact adversely on the environment. Many felt they were no longer able to do this as it meant struggling to bend down and tend them. In response, Global Action Plan helped them create raised beds in 15 sheltered schemes and an active community of resident gardeners has emerged.

Enabling residents to grow thier own food has numerous benefits, not least a reduction in food miles, unneccesary packaging and the use of harmful pesticides that has considerably helped to reduce CO₂ emissions.

“I feel that people are mixing more now because they have something in common. I’m also enjoying growing a vast amount of veg!”
Mrs. Lilian Gunn, Hanover resident
 

Intergenerational activities
An EcoTeam discussion as to how the young might deal with future environmental problems, combined with the view that older people generally had environmentally friendly habits, led us to arrange an intergenerational exchange between the EcoTeams and a local secondary school. The schoolchildren's visit to one of the Hanover schemes was a great success, not only in terms of environmental discussion, but also in helping to break down barriers between the two groups. In fact, since the meeting residents have reported bumping into the children on the bus and enjoying a friendly chat.

“We really enjoyed spending time with the children. We didn’t know how it would work out at first as young people sometimes don’t get on with older people but they were so polite and well mannered. We shared lots of ideas about the environment and what we can do to help deal with the problems it is facing. They even invited us to visit them at school”
Margaret Koroidivi, Hanover resident.

EverGreen results

• 340 residents are now sustaining environmental action as a direct result of the project 
• 28 tonnes of household waste have been recycled and diverted from landfil, saving 34 tonnes of CO₂
• The programme has brought noticeable improvements to the residents' quality of life and to the social dynamic, both within and between schemes:
  • team work and knowledge sharing have increased
  • residents are now more physically active
  • improvements to emotional health have also been reported
  • the physical environment has been considerably enhanced
  • there is now greater confidence and understanding between generations

“The EverGreen Project is not just about the environment, its about the community too. It has given our residents a shared sense of achievement and helped create a positive can-do attitude amongst them. This is across the board and includes residents with restricted mobility and other health issues.”
Judy Oakeley, Sheltered Housing Officer, Hanover

The future
As a result of these successes, Global Action Plan is continuing to support the work of existing EcoTeams and helping to establish new ones. The EverGreen Project has also proven to be an excellent tool with which communication can be aided in all areas within Hanover. Consequently, Hanover housing association and Global Action Plan are applying for further funding, to facilitate the expansion of the project nationally.

Hanover housing association has also signed up to the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change. For a statement of intent from Third Sector organisations to tackle the issues of climate change by taking action in thier own organisatons and communities, visit: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070618e.htm

If you think your organisation would be interested in getting involved in a project similar to the EverGreen project, please contact Nick Martin at Global Action Plan nick.martin@globalactionplan.org.uk.