Torbay: Community Development, Engagement and Volunteering
Supporting Communities and Young People
Groundwork South is working with communities and young people across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, supporting and enabling those who would like to help and improve their local nature spaces to take meaningful action. We work with community groups and youth organisations, all of whom are already working hard to improve places in their neighbourhoods. We also support the formation of new youth groups, where enthusiastic local volunteers can come together to help care for the natural spaces in the Bay.
Blue influencers Scheme
We are partnered with the Earnest Cook Trust to support Torbay’s young people to learn more about our local blue spaces, our rivers, ponds and of course the sea! This project works to build natural connections and facilitate youth-led social action, empowering our young people as changemakers.
Volunteering Opportunities in Torbay
We see the benefits of volunteering everyday through the work we do. It’s a great way to learn new skills, connect with people and with the wider community and perhaps most importantly, the work of volunteers helps care for Torbay’s natural spaces. By volunteering you can support local green and blue spaces in many ways; from hands-on activities, like looking after flower beds and planters or helping with practical habitat management, to supporting community engagement or helping with events and school visits.
Volunteering opportunities are available across Torbay. You could gain experience and skills in gardening, habitat management, biodiversity, conservation, citizen science, supporting grant applications or running small outdoor events. But of course, it all depends on the type of role you are looking for and the opportunities that are available.
Connecting Schools, Groups and Businesses with Torbay’s Natural Spaces
Let us connect you with your local nature space and help make a real difference to your community through a variety of activities. We will work with you to build on your school’s/group’s engagement with the local community, developing a positive connection that will provide increased opportunities for learning outside the classroom.
Further opportunities for organisations and businesses include sponsorship of spaces, events or programmes, all aimed at increasing your engagement with local people, whilst building on the positive impact that local green and blue spaces can have on the communities your business or organisation serves.
We can also deliver Corporate Volunteering opportunities, programmes of fully serviced volunteering days tailored to meet your organisation or business’s needs. This includes fun one-off challenge days, or programmes providing opportunities for people across your company and across multiple sites, all of which result in staff learning new skills, building team spirit and motivation and offer volunteers a great sense of achievement in doing something meaningful. The benefits of volunteering, for your business and people, include:
- more satisfied, motivated and happier staff
- improved internal team relations
- increased ability to attract and retain talent
- increased brand awareness and loyalty
- promotional opportunities and positive PR stories
- better relationships with the communities in which you operate.
Groundwork South charges for corporate volunteering to cover our costs. Please contact mags.brazendale@groundwork.org.uk to discuss the best pricing structure for your team.
For further information please contact Mags Brazendale, Senior Project Officer
t: 07702 532755 e: mags.brazendale@groundwork.org.uk