Guests see first-hand the impact community charity Groundwork East is making in Suffolk

Organisations gathered on Friday 27 September to see the impact Groundwork has been making to local people in Suffolk through its projects.

Guests were taken on a tour of projects in Stowmarket and Eye and had the chance to speak to project partners and beneficiaries to get a real feel for the work that had been done to improve lives and the local environment.

 

The group visited the NHS Hartismere Hospital where they saw the transformation completed, following a community consultation, by Groundwork’s Landscape Architects to turn a dis-used unit into a space for all to use. The area has now been relaunched as the Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre and is in daily use by both local people and schools, and improving health and wellbeing.

 

Guests also got involved in spraying yellow fish in the High Street, as part of the Yellow Fish project. Groundwork is working with the Environment Agency and East Suffolk Councils on the project, which is raising awareness of surface water pollution by spraying the yellow fish onto drains to serve as a reminder that only rain should go down the drain, as it all goes into our rivers.  

 

Finally, they visited a community food growing project, which Groundwork helped to set up, at the Museum of East Anglian Life (MEAL) where residents have been growing their own fresh produce to improve their health and wellbeing. They also learnt how MEAL has benefitted from Groundwork’s energy advice (part of the Business Energy Efficiency Anglia project) to assess their energy usage and obtain a grant for solar panels.  

 

Cristian Criscione, Communications Manager for Anderson Group said “It was wonderful to see the wider portfolio of Groundwork projects in action and to speak to others who have worked with Groundwork. At Anderson we are looking forward to expanding the range of projects we work with Groundwork on in Essex, including improving community spaces on our developments.”

 

Cody Prior, UK Power Networks Partnership Co-ordinator, said “Groundwork East hosted a really enjoyable and informative project tour day. We work with them to help families living in vulnerable circumstances, and we got to see and hear about different projects where they are helping the community and environment.”

 

Will Akast, Catchment Delivery Manager in Suffolk for the Environment Agency said “Thanks to Groundwork for a brilliant tour of some of the excellent projects you are delivering in Suffolk.  I learned a lot and it was really good to meet all the staff and other project partners.  Thanks very much!”

 

To work with Groundwork, call 01473 350370 or email east@groundwork.org.uk