On The Ground Winter 2012

News from Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale - Winter 2012 - Issue 5

T h e P o w e r o f G ro u n d w o r k P r i n c e ’s Tr u s t Te a m P ro g r a m m eS w i t c h o n t o F re e Tr a i n i n g

Wo r k P ro g r a m m e U p d a t e

I n t ro d u c t i o n t o Vo l u n t e e r i n g

B u s i n e s s P l a n n i n g f o r 2 0 1 2 / 1 3

2 Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Winter 2012

We l c o m eA happy New Year to all our readers! Thank-you for taking the time to learn about Groundwork and what we have to offer in 2012.

It is often a surprise to people to discover the diversity of our projects and services. As this newsletter shows there is much more going on at Groundwork than just environmental projects. More so than ever we seem to be directly helping local people, whether that is through training, help with finding employment or making improvements to the communities in which people live.

Our work is just as diverse as the communities we serve and I believe we’re much stronger as a result.

Best wishes for the coming year,Cliff EllisonExecutive Director

I n s i d eThe Power of Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team ProgrammeOne participant’s view on the programme’s positive impact.

Switch on to Free Training for Local BusinessesWe’ve got a range of free workshops to help cut costs.

Work Programme UpdateWe want to be the first choice for training providers and employers.

Introduction to Volunteering Course Launched in OldhamA new short course for those new to volunteering

Groundwork Business Planning for 2012/13Getting a clearer picture of our delivery in 2012/13.

Combating Fuel Poverty in OldhamHelping residents improve the efficiency of their homes.

Housing Refit ExtensionOur innovative 15-week training course is extended

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C o v e r I m a g e

“...there is a photo of a young person on a Prince’s Trust Team. I think the expression on her face is what makes everything we do worth while. It has captured all the emotions she is feeling at that particular moment - joy, pride, elation. We are lucky to have such dedicated staff who always try to bring out the best in all their team members.”

The above is a description by Groundworker, Jean Maxwell, of her favourite image from 2011. To find out more about our 11 Images from 2011 please turn to page 7.

3Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Winter 2012

A recent participant of our Prince’s Trust Team programme has summarised the importance and life changing potential that the course has to offer. Stacie, aged 24 and from Rochdale, had faced a number of difficult and traumatic life challenges before enrolling on the 13-week personal development course. On completing the course Stacie commented: “It’s personally been a real positive, life saving experience for me. I have developed so much confidence and self esteem. The course has enabled me to have faith in fulfilling my ambitions

and gave me relevant key skills for a variety of jobs.” Following her experience on the Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team programme, Stacie has volunteered on a project to help people get online and is now due to start an Open University degree course.

The course includes, a week-long team-building outdoor pursuits residential, a practical community project, a 2 week work placement, various fundraising activities, a Team Challenge to help people in the local area and a final presentation to showcase the

team’s achievements. Throughout the 13 weeks there is also the opportunity to take part in vocational training in First Aid, Manual Handling, Health & Safety and Food Hygiene.

Details of our upcoming courses in Middleton, Oldham and Rochdale can be found here... http://bit.ly/xS4xRE

We have also recently been lucky enough to have a short video produced by a volunteer from the BBC to illustrate what the Team programme is all about. You can view the video here http://bit.ly/zgq7Kp

For more information on our Prince’s Trust Team programme courses please contact Carly Kirby; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

“It’s personally been a real positive, life saving experience for me”

T h e P o w e r o f G ro u n d w o r k P r i n c e ’s Tr u s t Te a m P ro g r a m m e


S w i t c h o n t o F re e Tr a i n i n g f o r L o c a l B u s i n e s s e s

We are pleased to announce that we have developed a series of free seminars and workshops for local businesses to help save money and improve resource efficiency. In the current economic climate it’s vital that local businesses get the support they need to remain competitive.

Our free courses include a Corporate Social Responsibility Workshop (26/01/12), a Process Improvement & Waste Reduction Seminar (08/02/12), two Smarter Driver Training Sessions (21/02/12 & 22/02/12), a Water & Resource Efficiency Seminar (22/02/12) and an Energy Awareness Seminar (06/03/12). Most of the events take place in the mornings but places are limited so registration is required. These events are supported by ENWORKS.

Matthew Fitch, Environmental Business Advisor at Groundwork, added: “With rising energy costs, the instability of energy markets and increasing regulation now is the time to get ahead of the competition and improve your energy management.”

For more details or to register please contact Jean Maxwell; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

To find out about Groundwork’s full range of services for businesses please visit www.gwor.org.uk/business

“now is the time to get ahead of the competition and improve your energy management”


Wo r k P ro g r a m m e U p d a t eEvery town in Britain has organisations that work with Jobcentre Plus to help unemployed people back into work. For the next five years Groundwork will be working with one third of adult job seekers in Rochdale and Bury.

Already we have over one thousand customers on our caseload. We’ve just moved to new bigger offices in Middleton (Hampton House) and have an expanding team of over twenty staff. It’s a very exciting time for partnership working as we can easily identify and then refer groups of people to relevant local provision such as college training courses or volunteering opportunities.

For organisations wishing to recruit from the local area, we’re experts at matching candidates to the needs of local employers. Our reputation is built upon the quality and preparedness of candidates that we send for interview. We also offer candidates for short work placements which is proving popular with employers as a low risk and low cost way of screening potential employees.

We want both partners and employers to come to us as their first choice for referrals. Please contact Lisa Brown for more details; [email protected] or call 0161 653 0847.


I n t ro d u c t i o n t o Vo l u n t e e r i n g C o u r s e L a u n c h e d i n O l d h a m

Groundwork is delighted to be launching a new NLDC funded 4-week course for those new to the concept of volunteering. The course will run on 2 days per week for unemployed people aged 19+ from Oldham and includes various training such as Food Hygiene and Self Care.

Tobias Jones, course leader from Groundwork, added: “The ITV course will be a fun way to build your skills and experience, meet new people and do your bit to help improve the local area. Employers really value voluntary work on your CV and it’s a great way to increase confidence and self-esteem.”

We have the first course starting on 06/02/12 and the next course starting on Monday 07/05/12. For more details contact Paul Howes; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444 (ext 240).

G ro u n d w o r kB u s i n e s s P l a n n i n g f o r 2 0 1 2 / 1 3

After going through our annual business planning process with our staff teams we are starting to get a clearer picture of our work for 2012/13. There are some exciting projects on the cards and we’re very pleased with the outcome of our development work over the past few months (and in some cases years).

We’ve got some ongoing delivery that you may already be familiar with, such as Prince’s Trust Team programme, Work Programme and ENWORKS business support, but there are also some new projects that you will hear about over the coming months.

If you or your organisation has an idea that Groundwork can help to realise in 2012/13, Cliff Ellison, our Executive Director, would like to hear from you; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.


N E W S I N B R I E F

Combating Fuel Poverty in OldhamGroundwork will soon be starting a new, bigger Combating Fuel Poverty project in Oldham. Due to the success of the first project (http://bit.ly/xMaOWL), East and West Oldham District partnerships have provided further funding to help residents in both areas improve the energy efficiency of their homes. We are currently recruiting part-time volunteers who will be trained as Energy Advisors to visit homes, conduct energy surveys and provide support to save residents money. For more details, to apply to be a volunteer Energy Advisor or to receive an energy survey please contact David Malsom; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

Beever Primary SchoolWe’ve recently started work at Beever Primary School in Oldham to create an attractive outdoor teaching area. The scheme has been designed by our in-house Chartered Landscape Architects and will incorporate a timber amphitheatre, access improvements and landscaping enhancements. The work is currently being carried out by our own Contracts team and we will be updating our Flickr page with pictures as the scheme progresses.

11 Images from 2011Staff from Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale have selected a range of 11 images from the past year and supplied a personal description about what that image means to them. Feel free to view and read about the diverse collection of pictures on our Facebook wall (http://on.fb.me/w9P2hC) or Flickr set (http://bit.ly/zdwVgd).

VPA Dates in 2012Our Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) scheme continues to help people gain experience in the environment and regeneration sector. The scheme lasts for 12 weeks and is a combination of work experience and volunteering to gain accredited qualifications in Practical Countryside Skills (Level 1) and Community Volunteering (Level 3). In 2012 we have teams starting on 07/05/12 and 03/09/12. To keep up to date with what’s happening on this scheme visit the VPA blog - http://bit.ly/puZ2Dm

Housing Refit ExtensionOur innovative voluntary training project that combines housing regeneration and support for unemployed people in Rochdale has been given an extension. The 15-week Housing Refit project, delivered in partnership with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, takes groups of 4 unemployed people and equips them with construction trade skills, an accredited qualification and experience of a real housing refit. Due to the success of the first two Housing Refit projects, we are now able to continue this initiative on a further four properties. Read the case study on our website - http://bit.ly/zWcOmH

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale helps people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, to build skills and job prospects, and to live and work in a greener way. We’re a registered charity with over 25 years of experience working with partners to deliver successful projects in the Oldham and Rochdale area.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, Environment Centre, Shaw Road, Higginshaw, Oldham OL1 4AW

Charity number: 514726Company number: 01762088

Cliff EllisonExecutive [email protected]

Teresa JenningsOperations Director [email protected]

David MalsomCommercial Business Manager [email protected]

Phil TreatonLand & Design Manager [email protected]

Rob GlennWork & Employability Manager [email protected]

John DaviesYouth & Communities Manager [email protected]

On The Ground | Winter 2012

This newsletter was produced in-house at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale. Thank-you to all contributors.

C o n t a c t U sGive us a call - 0161 624 1444

Visit our website - www.gwor.org.uk

Connect on Facebook - Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale

Follow on Twitter - GroundworkOR

View pictures on Flickr - GroundworkOR

Watch videos on YouTube - GWOR30

Landscape InstituteRegistered practice

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On The Ground Winter 2012