19th September 2008
Staff at Aston University rose to the challenge recently as they swapped their day jobs for gardening gloves and pilot a new community volunteering scheme.
23 University staff joined CSV’s work team in late August at Aston Manor School, and in two days of hard graft created an attractive garden for the new Concrete to Coriander food-growing project in time for the new school term. With raised vegetable beds, seating and plenty of woodchip to keep down the weeds, the site is now perfectly set up for the new gardening groups, from the school and the wider local community.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julia King, gave permission for staff to spend time away from their workplaces. Staff were provided with full training, health and safety instruction, protective clothing and on-site supervision by CSV. It is hoped the challenge will lead to a University-wide voluntary scheme later in the year - developing more positive links with the local community and providing staff with a rewarding and educational experience.
Irena Iwegbu, Concrete to Coriander Project Officer, CSV Environment, said:
“This is a great example of how volunteers can make a real difference in their local community by giving their time to creating something really worthwhile. The new garden will open up the health and social benefits of organic gardening to the community of Aston. We are now looking for would be gardeners to join our weekly sessions which start in September.”
CSV Environment works with local communities across Birmingham to improve the local environment and encourage healthier lifestyles. The new garden in Aston is supported through the Aston Pride COFSS Health programme.
For more information on how your organisation could benefit from a Company Challenge with CSV Environment, please contact Guy Dixon on 0121 322 2038, or guy@csvenvironment.org.uk.
Fore more on Concrete to Coriander and the new Aston project in particular, please contact Irena on 0121 327 6054, or irena@csvenvironment.org.uk.