Building Greener Communities
A three-year initiative led by ecobirmingham and supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. This project will empower two Birmingham-based grassroots organisations, The Springfield Project and Allens Cross, to bring sustainability-focused activities and improvements to Sparkhill and Allens Cross. Our goal is to create a greener environment and promote a healthier, happier community for local residents. Learn more about our project partners and the wards we will be working in here.
Building Greener Communities (BGC) has three key areas of focus:
1. Delivering Eco-Activities and Engagement Projects
We aim to engage the local community and service users of The Springfield Project & Allens Cros with a variety of activities designed to inspire and support sustainable living. Expect things like:
- Exploring nature and the local area: Guided walks and activities that connect people to green spaces.
- Healthy, affordable cooking classes: Learn how to cook with slow cookers and air fryers, with free equipment provided!
- Energy-saving workshops: Practical tools and advice to help people save energy and reduce bills.
- Kids’ craft and nature activities: Fun, educational sessions for younger members of the community.
Skill-building opportunities: Training in growing plants and fresh food, equipping people with practical, sustainable skills.
2. Creating Sustainability Action Plans for Partner Organisations
Sustainability means… “To enable all people to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations”
We’ll work with The Springfield Project & Allens Cross to develop Sustainability Action Plans that serve as roadmaps for:
- Making their sites and buildings more sustainable.
- Encouraging service users and the local community to engage in environmentally focused activities.
- Improving the physical surroundings of these sites, such as planting trees and cleaning up litter.
3. Developing Ward-Wide Action Plans
For the wards where The Springfield Project & Allens Cros are based, we’ll create action plans shaped by:
- Research and community consultation to understand local needs.
- Partnership and Collaboration with other like-minded organisations and individuals.
- Local sustainability directories that we will develop to connect people with sustainability resources, professionals, and services.
Project Timeline & Our Main Goal
- The first year is focused on setting up the project, testing out some initial activities and laying the groundwork for success.
- You can expect to see an increase in activities and community engagement in years two and three.
- The ultimate goal is to reach a tipping point where 25% of households in each ward adopt some form of regular sustainability action.
- This is a new long term project that will create a greener environment and promote a healthier, happier community for local residents.
