Issue 01Winter 2014

Inside this issue...

page 2Discovery Centre Re-launchCommunity Bushcraft Day

page 3Schools ProjectsRangers

page 4Project of the Year AwardStaff progression

page 5Christmas at Car WoodApprentices

Groundwork is investing in the future

The youth contract provides a mentoring service that helps young people get on track to a better future.

Since April 2013, 283 young people have been enrolled on the Youth Contract, a programme that helps to mentor young people towards a more positive future. 60% of the young people enrolled on the scheme have gone on to further training or employment after completing the course.

The project is funded by the Education Funding Agency and will run for three years from 2012 - 2015. It aims at supporting young people most in need and to re-engage them in training, apprenticeships or employment.

The program works with young people who are not in Employment, Education or Training are 16 – 17 years old, have 0 – 1 GCSEs (A*-C), are in care, leaving care or have been in custody.

Mentors are assigned to each learner to support them in re-engaging with education and help them work towards a brighter future.

The project is having a positive impact on young people and helping them gain skills and confidence.

‘I was nervous when I first started but I get on with everyone and my tutors are great and they talk ‘to us’, not ‘at us’ like school, even Maths is not bad’

Adam Belll aged 16.

The young people are supported by an experienced team of mentors here at

Groundwork who aim to help them in finding the right career for them.

Education Manager, Caralynn Gale commented ‘The youth contract is making a really positive contribution to young people and helps give them the confidence to succeed in life’

The youth contract is ongoing and operates in Derby City, Derbyshire,parts of Lincolnshire andNottinghamshire (Mansfield, Kirkby & Sutton) If you would like more information on the Youth Contract and what it can offer, please contact Groundwork on 01246 570977.

Creswell, Ashfield and Mansfield Newsletter

page 6Introduction to Carralyn Gale, Education Manager

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Residents of Langwith and Shirebrook got the opportunity to learn Bushcraft survivial skills in Poulter Country Park from survival expert Richard Fletcher. The free event which took place on the 21st November was in partnership with Derbyshire County Council. We also had support from the Heritage Centre, Langwith and Rhubarb farm.

The event ran from 10am to 2pm. The event focused on teaching local people traditional skiils and increasing their awareness and respect for the local environment. The day included identifying different varieties of wood, open air cooking, building a survival shelter and learning how to respect the local environment and make sure we use its resources sustainably.

Bushcraft expert Richard Fletcher from Groundwork said: ‘I was really pleased with the event, this was an ideal opportunity for local people to learn traditional skills; everyone who attended was really enthusiastic and hopefully we can build on this in the future.’

Another event is planned in Poulter Country Park for Wednesday 19th February from 10am until 2pm which will include family activities and an historical walk organised by volunteers from the local Heritage Centre.

For more information contact Richard Fletcher on: 07976 507999

Bushcraft DayLocal residents learn bushcraft skills at Poulter Country Park

Discovery Centre Re-launchThe Discovery Centre at Retford is being re-opened to local schools.

In 2010 the new gas fired power station was started, initially a three year project. The Discovery Centre staff relocated over to Cottam Nature Reserve, working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

Although the construction of the new power station over ran it’s scheduled build we are now in a position to re open the Centre.

The Centre was saved from permanent closure due to the fact that in the environmental audit, Great Crested Newts were found to be breeding in the pond and during the temporary closure they were carefully monitored by Parson Brinkerhoff who have now re-furbished the pond and garden area. The car park that housed the workers for the CCGT site has been reclaimed and will be restored to a natural meadow. Tree planting will take place along the perimeter in accordance with the mitigation plan set out before planning permission was given.

Power station tours and classroom based activities still carried on during the Discovery Centre closure but using rooms on the main site, now we are back in our own centre which is fit for purpose and can accommodate a whole class of children. The grounds are looking neat and tidy and we look forward to hosting many more groups in the future.We are really excited to re-open the Discovery Centre once more.

Maddy Holroyd, Discovery Centre

This wonderful and imaginative garden of exploration represents the continents of the world with icebergs at the North Pole, a tepee and totem pole from North America, an African Bean game and African animal paw prints.

Groundwork’s community officer held a consultation event making clay models of African pawprints that were later used to make pawprints in the path. The pupils worked with Outdoor Classrooms Design to create the totem pole which is based on native American Indian cultue. The planting reflects the different continents with bamboo and eucalyptus from Asia and Australasia, woodland ferns and fruits from Europe, amongst many other different species.

A space and setting was prepared for a unifying

global mosaic and a compass painted on the ground to help the ‘explorers to find their way around the garden.

Nestled in the garden is an ‘Outdoor Classroom’ with a small forecourt for gathering.

This garden is now being enjoyed by the children for play and also provides a rich educational resource for use by the school as a whole.

Groundwork updates

llllBolsover Update Training staff are hoping to move to the newly re-furbished Bolsover Depot. by April 1st 2014, and Worksop staff will be moving over to the offices at Clowne.

lllWillow Works The Willow Works now has an online booking facility where you can check availability and request a reservation online.

lllAston Skate ParkGroundwork will be attending the Aston North, Disadvantaged Communities Road Show on the 25th February at Aston Parish Hall. Along with Rotherham Youth Service they aim to support Aston Community Associaion in raising awareness for a local community skate park project to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

On Thursday 3rd October, the Rangers and I met with committee members from the Matlock in Bloom group. They visited the site on a task day to present the Denefields Rangers with the Excellence Award.

On speaking to individual committee members from the group, I found that they were particularly impressed by the bee border and the newly developed butterfly garden. They also admired the nature trail and accompanying leaflet, and commented on its importance in attracting children to visit the reserve.

The presentation ceremony was featured in two local newspapers, the Matlock Mercury and the Peak Advertiser. The certificate is going to be framed and put on display in the Matlock Town Council reception area.

Wynndale School Groundwork and Crestra have worked with pupils at Wynndale school to design their new international garden

The Matlock Denefield Rangers are a group of local volunteers who meet with me every Thursday to look after a number of sites in Matlock on behalf of Matlock Town Council.

In September we heard that we had been awarded a Matlock in Bloom Excellence Award for the projects completed this year on the Denefield Reserve.

RANGERS WIN EXCELLENCE AWARDMatlock Denefield Rangers are recognised for their work

WINNER! - Project of the year awardHasland Village Hall won project of the year award at the 2014 conference. The annual conference was held at Creswell Crags on Friday 17th January to discuss the Trust’s performance last year and how we move forward in the future. Hasland Village Hall was voted project of the year 2013.

The Hasland Village Hall renovation and extension was part of the overall Eastwood Park Renovation Project. Eastwood Park is situated in the heart of the village.The Village Hall project was funded by Chesterfield Borough Council and Heritage Lottery Fund. Crestra was the prinicipal contractor for the renovation phase.

On 9 June 2013, Hasland residents celebrated the completion of refurbishment works on the Village Hall and wider Eastwood Park area. The developments were opened in a ceremony that marked the start of the Hasland Gala Day for 2013.

The project beat seven other projects to be voted, project of the year. The project has had a significant impact on the local community and helped to preserve local architecture for future generations.

Gary Smith Construction Contracts Manager commented:

‘Hasland Village Hall was a great project to be involved with, it included most aspects of building from the new build extension, general building refurbishment, and the renovation of the stone plaque and pillars to the front of the building.

Whilst I managed the project it is also a credit to the construction team, especially Russ Bluff and Shaun Morris who worked on the project from start through to the finish, but also the rest of the Crestra team who all worked on the project at some stage. Well done !!! and I’m glad for all the team that this was voted project of the year.’

The board were impressed with the range of entries and commented that it was difficult deciding on a winner from the wide range of projects put forward.

Staff continue to develop their skills

Paul Coulson, Youth Training Facilitator and Mike Steel, Training Officer have sucessfully achieved their City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma and apprenticeship qualification in work based horticulture; as part of their course they also achieved a MPTC certificate of competence in brush currting operations.

Executive Director Trevor Witts presented them with their certificates on the 22nd January 2014 at our Clowne office.

Both Mike Steel and Paul Coulson intend to continue their studies to gain a higer level of qualification in the future.

Groundwork are moving forward

Groundwork and Crestra currently have four full-time apprentices and two voluntary apprentices. The apprentices are able to gain practical skills through working with staff at Cresta and are able to enhance their training through support from Groundwork’s Education Department.

Well done to all of the apprentices who have completed their functional skills training and Gola Online Knowledge Test.

The apprenticeships were awarded on the 21 March 2012, and since then the apprentices have gained extensive on the job training .

Congratulations to four of the apprentices who have also completed their Diploma level 2 in Bricklaying; George Green, Liam Moore, Josh Hope and Jordan Smith

‘I’m really pleased to have my diploma after all of that hard work’ George Green.

Training officer Dave Tomblin commented: ‘The apprentices have worked really hard to recieve their qualifications and they should be proud of what they have achieved.

Christmas at Carr WoodThe very popular annual Christmas event was held at Carr Wood LNR in Ripley on Sunday 15th December. The event, now in its 10th year is very popular with the local community and forms part of their recognised Christmas social calendar. It is an environmental arts workshop, giving people the opportunity to make their own Christmas wreath for their doors. There is the opportunity to make other Christmas decorations such as angels, paper chains or stars and these are popular with our younger visitors.The workshop activities are led by one of our volunteers, an environmental artist, who is ably supported by other members of the volunteer team. Many of our visitors are now experienced wreath makers and newcomers to the event have many people willing to help them or offer advice. This year we were lucky with the weather and had a fine, dry but cold afternoon and the hot mulled wine and log burning brazier were very welcome. Refreshments are provided by the Friends of Group members and also included warm mulled soft drinks, mince pies, shortbread biscuits and snowball cakes. The event is supported by Amber Valley Borough Council, the reserve owners, but is organised and run by myself, with the assistance of the Carr Wood Friends of Group and the Groundwork

Conservation Volunteers. All the natural materials, willow, dogwood, ivy, holly, cones and flowers are from the reserve or from member’s gardens and are gathered together in the week before the event. Ribbons and lace and other decorative materials are provided by the environmental artist. This year’s event attracted a total of 49 adults and 33 children and many outstanding wreaths and decorations were made and taken away. An additional 11 volunteers helped to ensure that the event ran smoothly. This year, again, it was a great event and we received many favourable comments from both regular visitors and newcomers, who all agreed that the only improvement would have been a few flurries of snow to add to the Christmas atmosphere.

Gary Wain, Community Wildspace Officer

CongratulationsCrestra apprentices receive Level 2 Diploma.

The apprenticeship programme gives young people the opportunity to gain experience of employment in a professional environment whilst working towards a recognised qualification. Groundwork and Crestra have been very successful working with, and training apprentices.

Head office:96 Creswell RoadClowneChesterfieldDerbyshire S43 4NATel: 01246 570977Fax: 01246 813200

Worksop office:Rear of Sandy Lane Retail ParkBabbage WayWorksopNotts S80 1UJFax: 01909 479695

Key Groundwork contacts...

E-mail: creswell@groundwork.org.uk

Websites: groundwork-creswell.org.uk crestra.co.uk crestrasolar.co.uk

Trevor WittsExecutive Director GCAM/Crestra Ltd

Specific enquiries to:

Darren PollardConstruction, housing and landscape

Caralynn GaleEducation, training and skills

Katy GregoryCommunity

How did you come to work for Groundwork and when did you start?I’ve been at Groundwork for 6 years in February, my first job here was as a Training Officer. Since then I have been promoted through the department and then became Education Manager .

What does your job involve?My job includes managing staff, centres, contracts and the day-to-day delivery of programs within the Education Department. My role also includes procuring new contracts and maintaining existing ones.

What is your favourite part of the job?It is a real privilege working with the young people and seeing them progress.

What do you hope to do in the future?I want to continue to deliver a quality service and increase the number of learners we are able to support and help through our programmes.

What do you like to do outside of work?Outside of work I enjoy shopping, holidays, eating chocolate, walking and spending time with my daughter, Madaleine.

Groundwork staff spotlight:Caralynn Gale, Education Manager

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