Groundwork Hertfordshire

Groundwork Hertfordshire is an environmental regeneration charity in the United Kingdom. Formed in 1985, Groundwork Hertfordshire provides environmental solutions to local authorities, schools, communities, corporations and a variety of other organisations big and small. Groundwork enables an integrated, bottom-up approach to regeneration, involving and empowering local people to care for their environment, utilising sustainable development as a catalyst for action and promoting excellence in the partnerships it establishes or is invited to join.

Mission

Building sustainable communities through joint environmental action.

History

Groundwork's origins can be traced back to the late 1970s. The Countryside Commission was looking at ways to improve the physical environment of the urban fringe - the 'no man's land' on the edge of towns and cities which tended to be overlooked and often became run-down and derelict. In 1978 the Commission put forward proposals to the Government for a major experiment to look at new ways of improving and managing these 'in between' areas under the banner UFEX80. Following the 1979 general election UFEX80 was renamed 'Operation Groundwork' and the incoming environment minister, Michael Heseltine, presided over the launch of the first Groundwork Trust in St Helens and Knowsley in December 1981.

The Trust's role was to bring together a partnership of public, private and voluntary sector interests in a co-ordinated effort to upgrade the environment, to realise the full potential of under-used land, to convert waste ground to productive use and to improve access to the countryside.

Groundwork Hertfordshire was established as a company limited by guarantee on 3 September 1985 and registered as a charity in December that year - the seventh Groundwork Trust to be established and the first in the south of England. The inaugural meeting of the Board of Management, chaired by Tim Gilligan and consisting of members drawn from the business community and voluntary sector, was held on 7 January 1986. The Trust’s first Executive Director, Lt. Col. Dennis Ford was appointed in May of that year.

Groundwork Hertfordshire has grown steadily to become the leading environmental regeneration charity in the East of England and a prominent member of the Groundwork Federation. Approximately 150 environmental regeneration projects are delivered each year spanning the Trust themes of Community, Youth, Education, Employment & Training, Land and Business. The Trust works across the whole of Hertfordshire, in Harlow, Essex and in Luton & South Bedfordshire where a locally branded presence - Groundwork Luton & South Bedfordshire [http://www.groundwork-luton-southbedfordshire.org.uk] - was established in 2006.

See also

*Groundwork UK

*Groundwork Kent & Medway

External Links

*Website of Groundwork UK [http://www.groundwork.org.uk]

*Website of Groundwork East of England [http://www.groundwork-eastofengland.org.uk]

*Website of Groundwork Hertfordshire [http://www.groundwork-herts.org.uk]

*Website of Groundwork Luton & South Bedfordshire [http://www.groundwork-luton-southbedfordshire.org.uk]

*Website of Groundwork South Essex [http://www.groundwork-southessex.org.uk]