Green Volunteering

Groundwork works in partnership with local organisations to engage people in regeneration projects that will improve quality of life, focusing particularly on those areas with the greatest deprivation.

For the Green Volunteering Project we worked with asylum seekers by providing information and opportunities around volunteering on environmental projects.

The project was based on environmental learning, engaging with the natural environment and was linked in with community and social cohesion and provided a platform to learn about citizenship.

We also aimed to provide volunteers with transferable skills of communication and environmental knowledge. Activities included:

• Attending environmental networking events where they learned about engaging with a wide range of people,participating in activities and improving their English
• Taking part in environmental clean ups where the volunteers learned about integration and community cohesion
• Participating in allotment activities with the Narnia project, based around therapeutic horticulture. Volunteers learned about the allotments but also learned to open up and build their self esteem and confidence
• Participate in two information sessions. One of the sessions was based on an induction programme, which included information on home energy saving advice and basic information on policies and procedures within Groundwork Birmingham and Solihull. Another session was based on signposting and referrals to other environmental projects and having access to other service providers.
  

The volunteers showed willingness to integrate and had the opportunity to gain a diverse range of experiences, whilst learning the language and behaviour of ‘British’ people.

This project helped to improve the public perception of asylum seekers to staff within Groundwork. Through simple communication methods, it further broke down mistrust and misunderstandings that often leads to various types of prejudices.

Download the Green Volunteering report to find out more.