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Castlemilk Environmental Auditing Project |
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Friday, 13 August 2004 |
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This project focuses on extending the services of C-BETA to disadvantaged communities in Glasgow. It involves delivering environmental auditing support to 61 community groups and organisations throughout Glasgow by training previously unemployed residents.
Overview
PROJECT SUMMARY
C-BETA is a community based social enterprise, which was established in November 2000 by a group of eight residents of Castlemilk, Glasgow. The group is committed to demonstrating sustainable development in practice within those communities facing greatest disadvantage.
Over a period of 18 months the group developed a unique model of environmental management support designed around the needs of small community based organisations.
This project focuses on extending the services of C-BETA to other disadvantaged communities in Glasgow. It involves delivering environmental auditing support to 61 community groups and organisations throughout Glasgow. To do so the project provides training and support to previously unemployed residents to become 'Environmental Auditors', offering a permanent resource for their own community.
KEY PARTNERS
- Castlemilk Economic Development
- Castlemilk Wider Action - Key link with Local housing Associations
- Castlemilk Environment Trust
- Gorbals Community Forum
- Greater Pollok Development Agency
FUNDERS
Fresh Futures (Open Grants Scheme) - £39,000
Grant making Trusts - £25,000
Communities Scotland - £40,000
Castlemilk SIP fund - £39,366
SCVO Direct Grants - £8,845
Plan
NEED
C-BETA was formed in response to identified need for environmental management support within the voluntary sector. Increasingly voluntary organisations are required to demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability. However, without specialist support, which is often unavailable, many smaller organisations are unable to put a commitment to sustainable development into practice.
This project is based on local research that demonstrated a growing demand for environmental management support. Initial research revealed that 90% of organisations within Castlemilk deemed environmental issues important or very important, yet 81% had not even a basic environmental policy in place. Moreover, four in five organisations reported an interest in receiving environmental management support.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the project was to provide an environmental auditing service to community groups and organisations within designated Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) areas in Glasgow, and to develop the skills of residents within these communities to offer such support.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Through two new staff posts and associated training resources the project aimed to extend the work of C-BETA to new communities. The main objectives of the project were to:
- offer environmental auditing support to community-led organisations in three target areas;
- support 30 organisations across three target areas;
- provide environmental awareness training to staff in assisted organisations; and
- provide Environmental Auditing training support to eight previously unemployed residents within target areas.
Progress
GETTING ESTABLISHED
C-BETA was established in November 2000 as a community-led social enterprise. Over an 18-month period the group developed an innovative model of environmental management support designed around the needs of small community based organisations.
During this period the fledgling organisation also worked with Castlemilk Environment Trust to train local residents as IRCA registered Environmental Auditors. These volunteers formed a core of expertise that enabled C-BETA to deliver a subsidised environmental management service to local organisations.
Having thoroughly researched and tested its approach, the group then developed a business plan and identified a funding package necessary to restructure the organisation and develop the following initiatives:
- Greener Homes Initiative;
- Greener Offices Initiative;
- Fuel Poverty Initiative; and
- Neighbourhood Environmental networks.
This project, part of the Greener Offices Initiative, was designed to equip C-BETA to take its subsidised services to other parts of Glasgow.
IMPLEMENTATION
This project has enabled C-BETA to target its support towards a small number of disadvantaged areas of the city - Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) areas.
In each C-BETA works with local partners (e.g. community forums, SIP teams, development organisations, environmental agencies etc) to develop a local programme of support. In each community the project has:
- secured a funding package to provide a tailored programme of environmental support;
- formed a steering group of local partners to develop and co-ordinate the programme;
- raised environmental awareness among local groups and organisations; and
- provided environmental support to a small number of committed organisations.
Overall, the project has progressed well. To date 23 out of 30 planned environmental audits have been carried out for local groups and organisations. Eight unemployed individuals have undertaken Environmental Auditing Training, with five completing the course and receiving an internationally recognised qualification.
Despite good progress, some delays have occurred. Initial delays in securing funding were followed by delays in filling the post of Project Manager (the post had to be re-advertised). This set the project back from July 2003 to September 2003.
FUTURE STEPS
C-BETA now hopes to expand its services to households in disadvantaged areas. Building on a previous pilot project for a group of local Housing Associations the group hopes to deliver a Fuel Poverty Initiative covering: budgeting and money advice, energy advice, take up of energy efficiency methods, bill payment.
C-Beta also hopes to establish Neighbourhood Environmental Networks. These will be mechanisms where residents can voice their concerns around environmental issues, identify possible solutions and work with housing providers and authorities to take effective action.
In order to ensure financial sustainability, C-BETA has also introduced a pricing policy, which reflects the ability of larger organisations to pay a fee for environmental support. This generates much needed income to sustain and develop the work of the project.
Review
THE PROCESS
The project has worked with key organisations (e.g. Community Forums and Local Economic Development agencies) in each new area it works in. These organisations have been vital in setting up a local steering group where residents and business can have a say in how the service is delivered locally.
The project has also attempted to harness the skills and talents of local residents within each target community. By equipping local people to deliver their own services in their own community, the project has developed local capacities and sustainable methods of service delivery.
Overall, the process of tailoring local solutions to local needs has enabled the project to:
- better manage and co-ordinate services locally;
- raise awareness more widely within the local area;
- more effectively engage with key organisations; and
- better target support to where it is most needed.
The partnership approach combined with access to local knowledge was a great strength of the project, however in hindsight, integrating trainees more fully into the organisation at an earlier stage may have strengthened the approach.
THE OUTCOMES
The initial target of supporting 30 organisations has been surpassed as the project is delivering audit services to 61 organisations.
Although not yet fully completed, the project has enabled supported organisations to:
- become more energy efficient and make more effective use of their resources;
- introduce waste minimisation procedures and contribute towards recycling;
- keep within legal guidelines in relation to environmental laws and regulations;
- develop, implement, and improve environmental policies and practices; and
- cascade environmental management practices throughout communities
As the environmental auditing process is a continuous one, it will take some time to fully appreciate the long-term benefits for organisations. C-Beta intends to carry out a follow up audit to fully measure the benefits to assisted organisations that have received support from the project.
THE LESSONS
Overall, there are a number of lessons from the experience of the project to date, including the importance of:
- thorough research and testing of an approach before operating it on a larger scale;
- developing strong links and local knowledge in those communities where services are being delivered;
- ensuring that the skills and resources of an organisation are developed in line with the growth in services, as not to overstretch the organisation; and
- the importance of specialist and ongoing development support to develop social enterprise activities of this kind.
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Communities 