BTCV : Volunteer : Green Gym : Start a Green Gym : Green Gym Community Groups

Saturday 11 October 2008

Green Gym Community Groups

The aim of most Green Gym projects is to create a sustainable group of local volunteers who run Green Gym sessions for themselves. This is a process that can typically take between 18 to 24 months, and has enormous benefits for the volunteers, BTCV and our partners.

BTCV officers train and mentor local volunteers in the skills needed to run a Green Gym project, including group leadership, publicity, IT and practical environmental skills.

BTCV officers support volunteers, who develop their own constitution and organisational structure, including the group leader(s), treasurer and publicity officer.

By empowering volunteers to run Green Gym projects we facilitate life skills and friendships that make a real difference for people's health and environment. This enables BTCV to achieve its Mission: to create a more sustainable future by inspiring people and improving places.

BTCV supports community groups. Through the on-line Shop we offer advice, training, insurance, tools, training, seeds and plants. A Community network ensures that groups are kept up to date with the latest Health and Safety news, and BTCV offers.

The Group Review

In order for a group to be self-sustaining BTCV guides it through the Group Review process. This is a checklist of criteria created by BTCV in consultation with current Green Gyms to ensure that standards are maintained that that the group is properly trained.

When the group successfully meets these criteria it is issued with a Group Review Certificate, which it must renew every two years.

Working with diverse communities

The Green Gym concept is proven to be successful for many different community groups. We work with schools, young people, vulnerable adults, people with learning disabilities, and mental and physical illnesses.

BTCV can adapt the Green Gym Community Group process to meet the specific needs of people and communities.

More information

For more information about Green Gym Community Groups in England please contact the Green Gym Operations Manager Chloe Kegg or call 01403 730572.

For Green Gym Community Groups in Wales
Calum MacIntosh Tel: 029 2052 4275

For Green Gym Community Groups in Scotland
David Graham Tel: 01659 58543

For Green Gym Community Groups in Northern Ireland
Dianne Keys Tel: 028 9064 5169

 
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