Page 47 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2019

Community cohesion and volunteering Land Trust Annual Review 2019

Volunteering and the engagement of local
communities is an extremely valuable way of
enhancing our sites and creating emotional
ownership among our communities and residents.

The contribution that volunteers make cannot be
overestimated and our focus is always on the volunteer
and how we can add to their lives and experience as
they contribute to their community on our site. We work
hard to ensure that every volunteer is given something
back for the time and commitment they contribute,
either through increased skill knowledge, further
education, increased health outcomes or increased
community spirt and reduced social isolation.

Our green
spaces bring
families and
communities
together.

Over 45,000
volunteer hours
were completed
on Land Trust sites.

Volunteer of the year
Community space of the year

This year’s Volunteer of the Year was Aidan “ ...He is now a confident,
Richardson, who started volunteering on our site determined, passionate The Countess of Chester Country Park was Green Gym groups. The park is used by the local
at Brodsworth in July 2018 becoming an integral awarded Community Space of the Year at this community, university students, and staff and visitors
member of TCV South Yorkshire’s individual who lives and year’s Land Trust Awards. The space is a fantastic of the neighbouring Countess of Chester hospital.
volunteering team. breathes the outdoors” hub for the community and since its opening In addition to this, a new walking trail has been
Aidan underwent a personal transformation in 2014, has become a well-used green space installed by the Friends group, which has enabled
after joining the team, as Ranger Leon Hayward providing a host of physical and mental many members of the community to become
explains: “The Aiden who turned up to his first “Despite balancing volunteering with his part- wellbeing benefits. involved with the park. This project was unveiled at
volunteering session was extremely shy, struggled time job, Aidan has joined our Volunteer Officer A fantastic working relationship between the Land the park’s annual picnic event, which many local
with social anxiety and had very little confidence in scheme and has expressed interest in making a Trust, TCV and the Friends of group has allowed businesses and organisations attend with stalls
his own abilities. A year down the line he is now a career in this sector. His passion for the outdoors is the park to become a hive of activity throughout showcasing what they do. The park has retained its
confident, determined, passionate individual who infectious and he openly admits that volunteering the year. Weekly Brightlife sessions help the over Green Flag Award and won a Bees Needs award for
lives and breathes the outdoors. was the best thing he has ever done.” 50s involved in practical work, as well as fortnightly the first time.

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