An environment project

Need

The deterioration of the area's green spaces needs to be addressed in order to improve the overall wellbeing of residents and support the local economy (you could add an environmental aim, for example, improving local habitats, if relevant to your project)

Evidence

The information provided below is an example. When referring to consultation or research, you should include dates to show when it took place (ideally within the last two years to ensure it is up to date) and clarify the source of the evidence.

Newtown City Council has received complaints throughout 2010 and 2011 from businesses and local people about overgrown areas and littering. It has done some clearing of the area but has limited resources available.
A consultation event held last year by the New Growth Charity and attended by 36 people from the local community and local businesses identified areas of concern and provided suggestions of how these issues could be tackled
120 local residents completed a survey distributed by Top Survey UK Ltd in November 2011. The results showed that 76% were interested in learning new skills and 81% wanted to be more involved in maintaining local green spaces and taking ownership of them.
2010 statistics confirm the multiple deprivation ranking of the area in relation to employment, skills and health
Minutes from monthly multi-agency meetings in the area throughout 2010 and 2011 identify the issues of vandalism and littering
A national study carried out by Top Survey UK Ltd in 2011 linked the positive wellbeing of people to the environment around them

The overall aim for the project

To improve the well-being of people in the local area through practical environmental action resulting in improved local habitats for wildlife.

Outcome(s) for the project

Increased participation in environmental activities leading to local people learning new skills
Increased community involvement in managing and maintaining local green spaces, leading to reduced vandalism and littering
Improved local environments leading to increased use of green spaces by local people and improved wellbeing in the community

Tracking progress

Outcome	Indicator	Indicator level	Timescale
Increased participation in environmental activities leading to local people learning new skills	Number of people participating in practical environmental activities for the first time and gaining new skills	Participation of people who have not previously been involved in practical environmental activities: 50	Per year
		People learning new skills through participating in environmental activities: 35	Per year
		Participation of people who have not previously been involved in practical environmental activities: a total of 220, with a total of 50 interested in continuing to participate	By the end of the project
Increased community involvement in managing and maintaining local green spaces, leading to reduced vandalism and littering	Number of community led groups managing and maintaining improved green spaces	Three Community led groups set up each year to maintain areas	By the end of each year
		10 People developing new skills in project management	Annually
		100 people surveyed feel they have more say in local environment plans.	By the end of the project
Improved local environments leading to increased use of green spaces by local people and improved wellbeing in the community	Number and quality of footpaths/ green spaces	Two new footpaths/green spaces cleared and in use by walkers	Per year
		100 people surveyed say the quality of the environment has improved	By the end of the project
	People recording improved physical and social well-being	50 individuals report improved physical health through indicators such as increased participation in health and fitness activities and fewer doctor's visits	By the end of each year
		35 people report feeling less isolated through participation in community environmental activities	Annually
		150 people surveyed state that they feel good about living in the community	By the end of the project

Activities

Develop eight conservation sessions with schools in the area
Develop five information and advice sessions in three wards across the area
Run 10 learning sessions in three wards across the area
Run 5 clean up days with young people and older people in three wards
Establish three community vegetable plots
Carry out three visits to other areas to learn from good practice elsewhere
Undertake wood clearance and replanting in four sites across the area

Learning

The types of conservation activities were reviewed to ensure that there was something to offer both groups and these were promoted through the local school newsletter and businesses etc as appropriate.