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If environmental action is going to prosper and build better links with people and community groups with other concerns, then it's important to understand their concerns and link to them. That means a little less talking about how bad the environmental problems are and more listening to the social problems in order to find actions and projects that can help resolve both. Building such interdisciplinary links is not always easy. Anyone seeking to involve community groups in environmental action may need to develop an understanding of anti-poverty and child education targets as well as health priorities. Each discipline is looking to see stronger communities but each is also looking to meet its own targets Working across the issues A good example of projects that can help work across both issues is BTCV Green Gym. These projects combine practical conservation work with activities to help participants keep fit and stay healthy. The first was set up in 1997 as a joint venture between Sonning Common Health Centre, Oxfordshire, and BTCV to encourage the local community to improve both their health and environment. There are now over 60 BTCV Green Gym projects across the UK. The participants benefit their health by taking part in conservation activities which, in turn, benefits the health of the environment. So, for example, walkers benefit by upgrading footpaths to encourage easier and safer walking. Although the scheme can be compared to GP Referral schemes run in leisure centres, people wear ordinary clothes, use inexpensive equipment and can see a tangible result in their good work. Drop-out rates are low with an adherence rate of 72%. The BTCV Green Gym programme is continuously evaluated by Oxford Brookes University and shows that this kind of work could produce significant improvements in cardiovascular fitness, as well as mental health benefits, so long as participants work on a regular basis. It can be hard for community projects to make these links: one way to do so may be to build better links with your local council or health agency. Most councils have an environmental or sustainability development officer who will probably have a good knowledge and understanding of what is going on in your locality. They may be able to provide advice on which groups may share your interests or concerns. Many councils also have some form of local sustainability network or forum, or Local Strategic Partnership, which is a very good way of meeting other organisations; it can also be a way for you to feed your concerns into local decision-making. One way of developing an integrated approach to do this is to write down evaluation questions (see Part 2.8) that will help show how any project is helping deliver benefits not just for the environment but also for other community priorities. To do this successfully, you will probably need assistance from people in those other disciplines so that you can be sure you are measuring the issues that they think are important. All content copyright © 1986-2009 BTCV Ltd. Registered charity No. 261009 |
