2 March 2006

CSV staff recently attended the Sustainable Communities Awards, where the Street Champions scheme had been nominated for a Cleaner Safer Greener award. 

Although the scheme did not win the top prize, the nomination was a huge prestige boost for this exciting partnership project, which supports Birmingham residents who are concerned about their environment, and helps them to report problems and take action to enhance their local area.

Street Champions receive training and support, a reporting log diary and a direct telephone hotline to the city council, to get environmental problems cleaned up and removed. Each Street Champion also receives a grant of £100 to go towards their expenses and activities in their street. Activities are jointly organised and run by the Street Champions and the back-up team, a partnership of voluntary organisations and Birmingham City Council. 

Projects already successfully completed include street clean-ups, trip rail installation, street tree replacement, planting bulbs and bedding plants, planting up tubs and hanging baskets, and fence painting. 

CSV is well on course for recruiting 100 champions in east Birmingham, and expanding the neighbourhoods covered in 2006.

To find out more about Street Champions, please contact Guy Dixon on 0121 322 2038, or e-mail guy@csvenvironment.org.uk.