Groundwork
Merseyside

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR & ECO SCHOOLS AWARD

2ND GREEN FLAG ACHIEVEMENT – St. Teresa’s RC Primary School

St. Teresa’s Eco Schools journey began in May 2002 with a committee of 6 children, who represented the children of the school, and supportive adult members from the school, parents and the parish community. There was a huge task ahead! The playground was covered in tarmac and surrounded by a brick wall. This was developed over the years and now has a flourishing sensory garden, a small allotment area, soft play area, stage, football goals, basketball hoops, shaded areas and a boundary of railings. The school achieved their first green flag in May 2005 and their second in July 2007.

HEALTHY LIVES AWARD (Community Groups)

NESSIE CLUB – Canal Boat Adventure Project

In 2001 seven young people developed the idea of a canal boat-based social inclusion project: their aim was to enable young people from the poorest wards to identify and address barriers to achievements in their lives and to achieve their potential. Operating under the umbrella of the Canal Boat Adventure Project, the Nessie Club has produced innovative and groundbreaking programmes that have addressed physical and emotional health and under-achievement issues. Against all odds, these young people are achieving university places and proper jobs and they are healthy, informed young citizens.

HEALTHY LIVES AWARD (Public Authorities)

WINDLE PILKINGTON HOUSE HORTICULTURAL PROJECT – St. Helens Council Adult Social Care & Health Dept.

Our horticultural project, developed with a growing number of partner agencies, resulted in the regeneration of a derelict allotment site.  The site provides a valuable base where people with complex disabilities are supported to develop their social networks, interests and skills.  As well as the physical advantages of exercise, through practical tasks, service users also benefit from their ownership of the project, positive influences on mental wellbeing, with their invested time and effort literally coming to fruition.  The project has created a venue where a diverse, supportive, cohesive local community can be experienced at first hand by traditionally disadvantaged people.

LORD WINSTANLEY CHANGING PLACES AWARD

ALLANSON STREET CREATIVE COMMUNITIES – Allanson Street School

The pupils at Allanson Street Primary School were the driving force behind this grass roots project. By involving other members of the community in their research, it enabled all people to have an input into improving the area in which they live, not only vast improving the aesthetics of the area but contributing to the community well being, self esteem, communication skills and community pride

PAULINE MOUSDELL CHANGING LIVES AWARD

KINGSWAY BIKE PROJECT – Kingsway Tenants & Residents Association

The Bike Project provides free training and increases the skills of the local community in the Kingsway ward. It does this by re-cycling old/damaged bikes, thereby increasing the number of bikes that people have access to, and helps young people to learn to repair their own and other people’s bicycles. The project also provides healthy, safe and environmentally friendly transport and, by involving parents and neighbours as volunteers, has fostered a renewed sense of community spirit.

ECO SCHOOLS AWARD

2ND GREEN FLAG ACHIEVEMENT – St. Teresa’s RC Primary School

St. Teresa’s Eco Schools journey began in May 2002 with a committee of 6 children, who represented the children of the school, and supportive adult members from the school, parents and the parish community. There was a huge task ahead! The playground was covered in tarmac and surrounded by a brick wall. This was developed over the years and now has a flourishing sensory garden, a small allotment area, soft play area, stage, football goals, basketball hoops, shaded areas and a boundary of railings. The school achieved their first green flag in May 2005 and their second in July 2007.

CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT AWARD

RAGS TO RICHES – The Bankfield School

The Art Dept. has taken the lead in enthusing pupils to become more environmentally friendly with a message of ‘recycle and reuse’.

Staff, students and parents are encouraged to bring in any ‘Rubbish’ that the Art Dept. can use and this has lead to many innovative and exceptional projects. The most successful to date has been a project by the GCSE Art candidates.  The candidates have used their salvaging skills along with their imaginations to create some fantastic pieces of work. They have designed and produced decorative bodices that are suitable for the catwalk out of other people’s cast-offs