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Environmental Volunteering
Environmental Volunteering
Down 2 Earth Volunteering programme aims to strengthen capacity to work with volunteers from different sectors of the community. Volunteers give us additional arms to implement projects and action to reduce the borough’s environmental impact or ecological footprint.
Our Five Projects
Our Volunteering Programme currently sponsors five major projects. The projects are as follows:
Eco-footprinting Working Group (EWG)
The EWG is a community environmental steering group that aims to contribute to reducing Kingston’s Ecological Footprint to a sustainable level as early as possible. One of their main strategies is lobbying to influence council’s environmental policies and develop communication strategies.
Positive Environment Kingston
Positive Environment Kingston (PEK) is an award winning, innovative mentoring scheme offering free one to one practical support to help community groups, charities and small business, identify and implement simple actions to reduce their environmental impact or ecological footprint.
Hogsmill Action Group
Hogsmill Action Group (HAG) is a community council initiative that promotes the preservation of the picturesque Hogsmill Valley Walk and by doing so enhances the rivers natural resources.
Sustainable Gardening Group
The group aims to transform Kingston into a Green Borough that supports local biodiversity and contributes towards helping the environment through sustainable gardening practices that minimise the use of resources.
Community Composting Network
The purpose of compost mentors is to increase the level and raise the profile of home, allotment and other community based composting in the Borough. This therefore reduces biodegradable waste to landfill.
What do we have to offer?
There is a range of volunteering opportunities covered within the five projects described to suit everyone, including themes such as:
- 1:1 support (mentoring)
- Research
- Administrative tasks
- Conservation tasks
- Green Ambassadors
- Marketing
What are the benefits?
Most people just want to help to make a difference in the community and/or the environment, and are genuinely surprised to find that volunteering offers them so much more. For example here are few benefits:
- Gain environmental knowledge
- Learn new skills
- Enhance your CV and job prospects
- Build confidence and self esteem
- Add important skills to your CV
- Receive a volunteer credential
- Be entered for an award
- Meet and make new friends
What next?
If you would like to find out more information about our volunteering opportunities or if you wish to receive a volunteering application pack then please fill in the on-line questionnaire or contact Lynette Phillips, Volunteer Coordinator at email address on lynette.phillips@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or call the Environmental Services, Contact Centre on 020 8547 5929.