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All together now ...for the sake of the earth’s future
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| Jonathan Pollard from BEES with other members of Bradford Environment Forum, from the left, Sal Kerry (Royds Community Association), Aine Welsh (Bradford Cathedral Centre) and Rebecca Blackman (Bradford Community Environment Project) |
Jonathan Pollard, Sal Kerry, Rebecca Blackman and Aine Welsh work for different organisations.
Yet their overall vision and aim is the same. They belong to environmental groups which, though the work of each varies, help to look after the environment for the district's inhabitants to enjoy for generations to come.
The four represent just a small fraction of those involved in such work across Bradford district.
"There are many groups out there," says Jonathan, a project assistant for Bradford Environmental Education Service (BEES), part of Bradford YMCA, which provides a range of opportunities for individuals and communities across Bradford.
"There are friends of' groups, community groups, conservation groups, and individuals, all involved in this type of work. And the numbers are growing every year."
As with any like-minded collection of people, these groups have much to offer each other, yet they rarely get the chance to pool their knowledge and resources. Physical and time constraints are among the reasons why they often work in isolation.
But that does not have to be the case, thanks to Bradford Environment Forum (BEF).
Set up seven years ago, BEF is an informal network of organisations including voluntary and community sector environmental groups, local authority representatives, businesses and interested individuals. It brings together people, resources and ideas.
Its members now number more than 30 small and large organisations involved in environmental activity.
The group meet about once a month at different venues across the district, and last year BEF organised a conference, which was a great success. This event is being repeated next Wednesday, and anyone is welcome. "We would like to see as many people there as possible. It will give people the chance to talk to each other, find out what others do and forge new links," says Jonathan.
"There is a lot of discussion. The conference is a forum for people to share information, finding out about issues such as funding, and opportunities for groups to work together. If one group hears what practical work others are doing, they can find ways of linking up," says Rebecca, an environmental play worker with Bradford Community Environment Project.
Adds Aine, who manages Land-Based Studies, the environmental arm of Bradford Cathedral Centre: "Getting groups together means people can share examples of good practice - what works well for one group may help another. People get to know where to go for help."
Among the members of BEF, which is funded by Neighbourhood Renewal cash, are Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Heaton Woods Trust, the Friends of Judy Woods, Forest of Bradford, Freecycle Bradford and Prism City Farm. Projects include activities surrounding recycling, litter, gardening, conservation and sustainability.
"When we meet we have updates on projects, and some groups may ask if anyone else wants to help," says Sal, community environment programme manager for Royds Community Association, who also oversees the environmental warden scheme, part of the district's Environmental Task Force.
"At present, in conjunction with the University of Bradford, we are looking at an educational pack on sustainable development which would be used as a teaching resource in primary schools.
"It will teach children about being involved in their community, helping to look after the environment, food growing, and waste." She adds: "We help each other out. I've got a number of schools coming to a tree planting in Judy Woods next month. Bradford Council hadn't got any more trees, so we approached Forest of Bradford who were able to help us out."
The forum enables groups to also share resources such as tools, and find technical help should they need it.
Work in the environmental, and particularly the voluntary sector, can be quite isolating. BEF offers the chance to remedy that. "It is a good way of making connections, and making friends.
BEF is keen to attract more businesses. "Businesses now have a corporate social responsibility," says Sal, who represents BEF on Bradford's District Environmental Partnership, one of Bradford Vision's network of partnerships across the district.
"For example, the Friends of Judy Woods has a close working relationship with CIBA in Low Moor, who take part in clean-ups in the woods."
"We aim to look at what we have achieved in the past year and set priorities for next year," says Jonathan. "This year we are formalising things a little, and launching the group's constitution, which will hopefully help to secure more funding. We will be discussing what members need from the forum and looking at how the forum will have its voice heard in the future."
One of the products of this year's forum is a special directory of all BEF's members. "We feel that with so many members, a directory containing details of groups and contact numbers, would be very useful," says Jonathan.
"We have an events section on our website that lets members and the wider public know about events that are happening across the district," adds Rebecca.
"We all know what is going on in our own area, but if you knit it all together you find out about other environmental action that you might want to get involved with. There are so many advantages, we hope people will contact us to find out more, and join us."
Bradford Environment Forum's second annual conference will be held from 9am to 2.30pm next Wednesday at Bradford Resource Centre, Chapel Street, off Leeds Road, Bradford. A vegetarian lunch is provided. To find out more about BEF or to book a place at the conference contact BEES on (01274) 513102 or e-mail
coordinator@bradfordenvironment.
org.uk. You can also visit
bradfordenvironment.org.uk
3:09pm Tuesday 19th February 2008
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