Green Team

Hertfordshire Is Ready For Winners is funding a “one-off” Groundwork Hertfordshire training scheme named ‘Green Team – Growing Communities’. The scheme is focussed on providing support to Town and Parish councils, local organisations and community groups who aspire to create or improve a community area to celebrate and commemorate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and/or the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Projects range from the creation of commemorative gardens and new community green spaces to community orchards and everything in between!

Groundwork has been operating a Green Team programme in Hertfordshire for four years. The Green Team is an award-winning, 16 week voluntary training course for unemployed young people aged 16 to 25. The course enables volunteers to work on a wide programme of environmental improvement projects while developing both hard and soft landscaping skills.

Participants are supported to complete a City & Guilds qualification in Land Based Studies in addition to building communication, team working and job seeking skills. This balance of ‘green’ skills, experience and the qualification, together with an emphasis on job searching, enhanced CVs and interview technique ensures that volunteers are well placed to secure employment at the conclusion of their training. The programme has an outstanding track record of success in this respect.

Green Team – Growing Communities has been granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said:

“The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like Green Team – Growing Communities are enabling Hertfordshire people to make positive life changes.”

Steve Harvey, Executive Director at Groundwork Hertfordshire said:

“Green Team – Growing Communities” will provide a unique development opportunity for local young people and will enable a range of Hertfordshire communities to commemorate the London 2012 Games or the Jubilee in a way which will provide a tangible, positive legacy for future generations”.

Chairman of the Hertfordshire is Ready for Winners Partnership Derrick Ashley, said:

”This is a fabulous initiative that not only engages local communities in delivering benefits to their neighbourhoods by using local volunteers but also commits to reducing youth unemployment.”

The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games – a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, business opportunities and culture. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.

Link & Source: Herts is Ready for Winners Newsletter February 2012:

http://www.hertsisreadyforwinners.co.uk/downloads/hrfw%20e-newsletter%20february%202012.pdf