Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 Impact Report for Our Parklife CIC

Contents

Executive Summary ...... 4

Our Parklife Founding Partners ...... 6

The story so far ...... 8

Highlights from 2016 ...... 10

Measuring our Social Value ...... 12

Volunteering - Park Champions ...... 16

Customer and Mobility Services ...... 21

Local Employment and Training ...... 24

Educational Visits ...... 30

Mobile Garden City...... 33

The Harvest Stomp ...... 36

Consulting our Stakeholders ...... 39

Aims for 2017 ...... 42

Appendices ...... 44

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 3 Executive summary

Established in 2014 when Queen We have worked hard to ensure that Our work on social impact suggests Elizabeth Olympic Park reopened, employment opportunities are targeted we have created approximately £2.7m1 Our Parklife CIC has been working in at local communities and are proud that of economic and social value for the partnership with the London Legacy over 60% of the team that look after local economy. Development Corporation (LLDC) and the Parklands and venues come from local communities to ensure that East the host boroughs of Newham, Tower The unique mix of expertise that stems Londoners benefit from opportunities Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney. from our founding partners enables us to volunteer, work and gain new skills We have provided work programmes, to design new and innovative services on the Park. development and training opportunities and ways of working with Park partners. for those re-entering the working world We look forward to developing these During 2016 we have seen the Park or wanting to try something new; in 2016 opportunities in 2017 as exciting new Champion Volunteer programme these programmes benefited over organisations and institutions move grow from strength to strength. 100 people. onto the Park. Our proud volunteers are the face of the Park, exuding energy, enthusiasm Our Parklife’s considerable success in Our aim is to create measurable, and passion, dedicating over 13,700 2016 has been recognised more widely positive social impact for local people hours of their time to customer in becoming a finalist at the Guardian through how the Park is managed and services, mobility services, events Sustainable Business Awards, National maintained by involving local people and horticulture. CSR Awards and ENGIE’s Innovation in services, activities and events. The Awards. The Mobile Garden City was income we receive for the services also ‘Highly Commended’ by the we provide is reinvested in realising Landscape Institute for its achievements our aims. and as a project designed for temporary landscapes.

1 This is a sum of the economic value and subjective wellbeing value of our volunteering and employment programmes.

4 Executive Summary Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 5 About Our Parklife and it’s founding partners

Our Parklife Community Interest In establishing a CIC, the partners ENGIE Company (CIC) is a social enterprise went above and beyond traditional Experts in energy, technical, FM on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sustainability solutions. Its success services and business process designed to help deliver the legacy lies within its ability to maximise the outsourcing, ENGIE guarantees their of the 2012 London Olympic and know-how and skills of the founding customers transformational outcomes Paralympic Games. It is a truly partners, which has enabled the CIC to – from reducing cost and environmental innovative joint venture being the develop and deliver a diverse range of impact and maximising operational first CIC to bring together skills programmes for local people. resilience, to improving the quality and experience from the private, and efficiency of business processes. charitable and social enterprise Across the UK and Ireland, ENGIE’s sectors in one organisation. 15,200 employees deliver solutions This unique partnership comprises: at over 14,000 customer sites – with ENGIE, principal contractor for an annual turnover of £1billion. Their estates and facilities management; unique combination of service expertise idverde, the parklands management extends from the design, installation and sub-contractor to ENGIE; Renaisi, a management of local and renewable local social enterprise specialising energy solutions, to the operational in regeneration; and environmental delivery of integrated facilities services. and social regeneration charity engie.co.uk Groundwork London. @ENGIE_UK

6 Introduction idverde UK Groundwork London Renaisi idverde is wholly dedicated to providing Groundwork London is a social and Renaisi is an award-winning social quality green services and is passionate environmental regeneration charity. enterprise committed to making about ensuring a bright future for For almost 20 years they have been improvements to communities, putting Britain’s parks and countryside. at the forefront of environmental and local people at the centre of positive As the UK’s largest green services social regeneration in London; changing change. Through their extensive provider, idverde’s services range from places and lives for the better in some experience delivering neighbourhood- professional open space management of the capital’s most disadvantaged based regeneration programmes, to landscape design and build, grounds neighbourhoods. In today’s challenging local economic development initiatives, maintenance, tree surgery, outdoor social and economic climate the work employment services and work with facilities management, biodiversity they do has never been more important; migrant families, Renaisi understands management and waterways creating better places, improving what it takes to enable people and management. idverde cares for parks people’s economic prospects and places to thrive. and gardens, amenity green space, helping people to live and work in a renaisi.com playing fields, canals and rivers, more sustainable way. Their three @Renaisi woodlands, cemeteries and nature over-arching objectives are to Create reserves for a range of public and better places, Promote greener living private sector customers across the UK. and working and Improve people’s idverde.co.uk prospects. @idverdeUK groundwork.org.uk/london @GroundworkLDN

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 7 The story so far

The Estates and Facilities The Public Services (Social In our first year Our Parklife:

Management contract Value) Act 2013 and the nn Established the Park Mobility service ‘Convergence’ Ambition ENGIE are contracted to deliver the nn Developed the Park Estates and Facilities Management The Public Services (Social Value) Act Champion programme (EFM) contract on Queen Elizabeth came into force on 31 January 2013. It Olympic Park on behalf of the London requires those who commission public nn Hosted education visits with local Legacy Development Corporation services to think about how they can schools and groups (LLDC). The contract approach is one also secure wider social, economic and nn Ensured that employment and of “Affordable excellence and sustainable environmental benefits. Our Parklife training opportunities were focussed legacy through whole-life management CIC was one of the first CIC’s set up with on local communities of the landscape, essential infrastructure the sole purpose of finding innovative and social assets for our clients and solutions to some of the challenges nn Developed key relationships and communities.” This approach is built faced in East London. Our Parklife plays consulted with Park stakeholders on the belief that a successful park is an important part in the ‘Convergence’ connected to its local community. To Ambition – that the Park will be the nn Set up and operated Mobile Garden achieve this, the vision for delivering catalyst for long term regeneration and City – the only community garden the EFM contract has to be linked to growth in East London, helping to “close on the Park the delivery of the LLDC’s “Priority the gap in performance and prospects nn Established The Harvest Stomp Themes” for social, economic and between the wealthiest and poorest – an annual community festival environmental regeneration in the local communities and in so doing bringing celebrating local food growing area that represent the regeneration benefits for all.” legacy. Our Parklife was established to and resourcefulness www.growthboroughs.com/ ensure that the Estates and Facilities convergence nn Provided event support to the Management contract on the Park met London Stadium and London these ambitions. Lions Basketball Club

8 Mission and Approach Partnership model - capacity created

reates additional cap C acity

Renaisi Groundwork London, idverde, Clear not for ENGIE profit brand – Access to expertise can be developed across ENGIE on the Park for commercial services

Ability to attract Creating new long term social services – Park investment as Mobility market develops

Connecting t

C n r Local People to e e

a m t t e the Park Testing new s s Joint Venture e commercial v s Structure based on n o services. Profits to i Company Limited by c be reinvested r i o a Guarantee f l back into CIC a s n ie d it b Levered in n u tu s Targets for resources from r i o n local employment Skills Funding p e p ss volunteering skills Agency, Public o v programmes etc. and Charitable s al te ue Sectors ea Cr

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 9 Highlights from 2016

Our Parklife has grown from strength nn Facilitated 15 School/Education Visits nn Been finalists for 4 Awards – The to strength during its second full year inspiring local young people to learn National CSR Awards, Guardian of operation. We’ve continued to build about Biodiversity, Sustainability, Sustainable Business Awards, ENGIE on our successes of 2014-15 and look Career opportunities, Energy and Innovation Awards and Landscape forward to another busy year in 2017. Landscape Architecture Institute Awards This year we have: nn Collaborated with local colleges and nn Facilitated local employment - of nn Coordinated and managed over Universities including University our current EFM workforce 149 850 volunteers giving up over College London (UCL), Loughborough people have been employed locally 13,700 hours of their time, creating University London, University of of which 67% are from our a value of £133,600 to the Park East London (UEL) and Queen Mary surrounding boroughs and £1,849,500 of value through University subjective wellbeing nn In 2016 50 of our staff were nn Delivered bespoke volunteer previously unemployed. We calculate nn Delivered over 70 accredited training placements for over 20 local that approximately £740,000 is qualifications students with Special Educational created for the local economy by Needs from Hackney Community getting people back into work nn Supported 15 Apprentices in College and BSix College Facilities Management, Horticulture, Cleaning and Team Leading nn Delivered Customer and Mobility Services welcoming over 67,000 Park visitors and over 9,000 visitors with a Mobility impairment

10 Highlights from 2016 Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 11 Measuring our social value

Measuring our social value Areas of social value and

Social value is an important outcome for During 2016 we worked with a team our activities: any business, particularly for a Social of five students from UCL on the nn Social Impact – the changes we Enterprise like Our Parklife. Our activities Global Citizenship programme to help make to people (through our training are founded on a mission to improve the us measure the social impact of our and employment programmes, livelihoods of the communities in and volunteer programme. Their work was Volunteering programme, Park around the Park and the environment. also supported by earlier work carried Mobility and Customer Services and Our Parklife creates social value for out by consultants who helped develop Mobile Garden City project) people in different ways and is focussed our work on Social Impact measurement on four key areas. across the CIC. nn Environmental Impact – the changes we make to the environment (through Our early work on measuring social value our Conservation Volunteering is focussed on Social, Environmental and programme and Mobile Garden City Economic Impact, but as we grow we will project) continue to look at ways we can capture our impact in the broader context of nn Economic Impact – the changes Community Regeneration. we make to the economy (through our training and employment programmes)

nn Community Regeneration Impact – the changes we make to the wider community

2 Resident of the ‘Host’ boroughs of Hackney, Waltham Forest, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Barking and Dagenham. 3 Based on the monetary value of volunteering using the London Living Wage of £9.75 per hour. 4 Based on New Economy Manchester estimates a benefit of £13,500 of value per person

12 Measuring our social vaule

£133,600 of value created through Volunteering3

Estimated 50 people working on the Park previously unemployed £1.3m of value created for the local economy

67% of the people working 2 on the Park are local

£1,849,500 “Really enjoyable and of value has insightful two weeks. been created We were made to feel welcome at the Park through and learned a lot about subjective Our Parklife” 4 - UCL Student wellbeing

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 13 31% of the 6% of the workforce workforce have a are women disability2

70 Accredited training qualifications delivered

65% of the workforce are from a BAME background5

14 Measuring our social vaule Our Parklife Theory of Change

• Our Parklife Mission • Technical Capacity • Employment advice • Local people • People into • Increased and Objectives employed sustainable jobs effectiveness of • Investment • Training and skills EFM contract • Priority Themes development • Volunteer days • Added value of • Experience volunteers • Increased local • Legacy Commitments • Service co-ordination • Previously ownership of the in the EFM Contract • Volunteer time unemployed • Improved skill Park • Education employed levels • Improved general • Services • Training sessions • Better wellbeing of local (e.g. Park Mobility provided environmental people and Volunteering awareness • Education visits provided • Added value in contract delivery

5 British, Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (used to refer to members of non-white communities in the UK)

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 15 Volunteering – Park Champions

The Park Champion volunteer Park. With their enthusiasm, dedication new roles with West Ham United, programme is delivered by Our and knowledge our Park Champions have London Lions Basketball Club as well as Parklife on behalf of the London Legacy continued the spirit of the 2012 Games developing a Community Guiding role. Development Corporation and enables Makers. In 2016 volunteers gave up people to participate in the legacy of over 13,700 hours of the time across the Tailored volunteer opportunities have the London 2012 Olympic and programme in four main roles. also been developed in partnership with Paralympic Games, whilst giving groups who have specific requirements something back to their local community. These included: or needs. This is demonstrated through our bespoke 6 week customer service Volunteers are involved in supporting nn Supporting events volunteer programme with the Tower customer and mobility services, nn Helping look after the wildlife, Project – a local community-based events on the Park and in its venues, parklands and gardens on the Park voluntary organisation that works with conservation and gardening activities, children and adults with a learning, school visits, career workshops and nn Providing information and help to physical or sensory disability or health- much much more. Park visitors, including delivering the related issue. This accredited training Park Mobility Service programme involved local students The programme promotes best practice volunteering with our Customer and volunteering and provides opportunities nn Supporting the venues Mobility Service teams, developing their to learn new skills, build confidence, customer service skills and learning We are passionate about developing new develop social networks and well-being; about career opportunities on the Park. as well as empower a wide and diverse and exciting opportunities for volunteers group of visitors to get the most from the on the Park. In 2016 we have developed

6 Total of £131,600 (value through volunteering equivalent of LLW) plus £1,849,500 (Subject wellbeing) equates to £1,981,100

16 Volunteering – Park Champions

13,700 hours of volunteering equating to £1.9m of value created through volunteering6

5 different volunteer roles

850 registered volunteers

47% local volunteers 28 trained 44% local volunteers team leaders 700 hours of volunteering in National Volunteers Week alone Over 1300 shifts

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 17 Corporate Volunteering “The Park Champions are an essential Our Parklife is passionate about connecting local people and local part of life at Queen Elizabeth Olympic businesses to the Park. In 2016 we have supported in the delivery of Corporate Park, warmly welcoming and guiding Volunteering activities in partnership with Groundwork London and the our visitors whatever the weather and Mobile Garden City. Over 50 volunteers from PWC and Quotient have spent a great example of the legacy time exploring the Park taking part in competitive team challenges that involve of volunteering from the Games of orienteering, social media and wildlife spotting. These fun and engaging days London 2012” are a fantastic way for businesses to Peter Tudor, learn more about Our Parklife and Director of Visitor Services, the Park. London Legacy Development Corporation Refer to Appendix 1 for a more detailed breakdown of our volunteer programme delivery.

18 Volunteering – Park Champions “Great team of volunteers and great to be part of such a fantastic legacy from London 2012. Having grown up a stone’s throw from the Park in Bow and having known the area before its transformation, it’s amazing to see how much has been achieved. Volunteering in Customer and Mobility Services, it’s a privilege to be able to help visitors of all ages, from home and abroad, particularly when operating the Buggy mobility service. It’s wonderful to see the enjoyment that individuals with restricted mobility get from having the chance to view all that’s on offer in the Park. As my first experience of volunteering, it’s been fantastic to be part of a team of helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers, many of who are also now good friends. Thank you.” Richard Darby, Volunteer

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 19

5,500km travelled by our Park Mobility buggy

40% increase use of Customer and Mobility Services in the Summer

425 Customer and Mobility Service Volunteers

64 volunteer trained sighted guides 38% increase in Mobility Welcomed and helped over 67,000 Park Service users visitors and over 9,000 visitors with a Mobility compared impairment to 2015

20 Customer and Mobility Services Customer and Mobility Services

Following the overwhelming success Whether it’s supporting an event, Our Volunteers receive ‘Welcome All’ and popularity of the Park Mobility encouraging visitors to make the most of disability awareness training as well as Service pilot programme Our Parklife their visit or sharing their own stories and Level 1 My Guide Sighted Guiding. took over the full operation of the local knowledge the team are the proud Park’s Information Point in April 2015. and passionate face of the Park. This is Refer to Appendix 2 for a breakdown of This has resulted in the Park Mobility widely recognised and both staff and our Mobility Service provision in 2016. service being available to Park visitors volunteers receive constant praise from We also provide uplifted Mobility Services seven days a week, and the creation Park visitors. for Park events and group visits. In of a broader Customer and Mobility 2016 we catered for over 15 uplifts, Service Volunteer role. The summer of In March we led on the delivery of a range of activities on the Park as part of this included: London Lions Basketball, 2016 saw the hours extended to meet National Paralympic Day, Corporate both customer demand and volunteer Disabled Access Day, a national campaign to raise awareness of access issues show-rounds, Private events at the enthusiasm which saw a 40% increase in ArcelorMittal Orbit and a visit from the use of our services. faced by disabled people. The Park has been designed to be as accessible and HRH Princess Anne. In 2016 our Customer and Mobility inclusive as possible for a wide range of Service Volunteers helped and visitors, employees and future residents welcomed over 76,000 visitors. – our services underpin this.

“Thank you so much. I came to see the park, but this was so much extra! The buggy trip provided a great overview of the Park. Thanks again!”” C. Tunbridge, from Enfield

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 21 “Our Park Champion volunteers can make someone’s day on the Park as is clear from the fantastic customer feedback. In particular, when delivering the Park Mobility service, which is so important for many of our customers. It’s the Park Champion volunteers that make it so welcoming, friendly and a joy to use!” Ian McKinnon, Senior Inclusive Design Manager, London Legacy Development Corporation

22 Section “It was a brilliant drive around the Park; my son is disabled so this is the first opportunity we have had to see the whole Park. Frank and Sean were extremely pleasant and informative. Please keep up the service, it is invaluable.” Bridget and Daniel, Park Mobility customers from Essex

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 23 Local Employment and Training

A key target for the Park is to ensure Our Parklife partners ENGIE and guidance, site visits, work tasters, paid that local people benefit from the idverde jointly employ approximately employment and one-to-one support. exciting and diverse employment 230 people on the Park, and work hard This programme can lead to full-time opportunities that are available with to ensure that recruitment is focussed employment on or off the Park with local a range of employers. Within the EFM locally. Our Parklife facilitates a range employers. contract on the Park the workforce is of employment programmes for local focussed on providing the following people on the Park. The training and Apprenticeships – services: employment support that is provided Apprenticeships offer great to the Park Champion volunteers can opportunities for young people to nn Engineering Services often be the next step for volunteers gain skills in a specific industry. The apprenticeships available on the Park nn Visitor Attraction Management who are keen to gain experience in certain industries. through Our Parklife Partners ENGIE and (ArcelorMittal Orbit) idverde are specifically aimed at local nn Catering and events (Podium Bar and Our training courses and young people and school leavers who Kitchen and ArcelorMittal Orbit) programmes: are interested in careers ranging from Horticulture and Grounds maintenance nn Security Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) – to Facilities Management, Engineering The Intermediate Labour Market and Customer Service. nn Grounds maintenance and programme is a six month programme landscaping Our Parklife involves its partners in developed specifically for Queen understanding where apprenticeships n Elizabeth Olympic Park. This n Helpdesk operation and can be embedded in the employment programme provides employability management and training opportunities on the Park support to increase skills and improve and maximise on the unique opportunity nn Cleaning services people’s prospects. Job seekers to progress elsewhere within the take part in a unique pathway which company and industry. provides training, CV and interview

24 Local Employment and Training 67% local 31% 6% 65% employment women disabled BAME

Training Programmes ILM & Apprenticeships

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 25 Internships and Student University College London – Volunteer Placements – Students from University College “I consider myself Our Parklife hosted students on London’s (UCL) Global Citizenship placements ranging from 6-12 weeks Programme spent 10 days working on a very lucky to have as part of their full time studies and project to evaluate the Social Impact of started to volunteer focussing on a range of different topics. the Volunteer Programme. With a new Local students spent their placement campus planned on the Park we look as a Park Champion supporting the volunteer programme, forward to working more with UCL and educational events and learning about their students. in Queen Elizabeth different aspects of the Park. Customer Service Volunteering with Olympic Park from Loughborough University London – the Tower Project – With a campus on the Park, During 2016 Our Parklife have supported the very beginning. Loughborough University London’s three placements of 6 weeks with the students are an exciting new community Tower Project, a community based It led to me directly to arrive in East London. In 2016 we’ve voluntary sector organisation and getting a dream job worked with them in a number of award winning leading service provider ways. This has included promoting the for children and adults with a learning as Duty Manager Park Champion programme to their disability, sensory disability, autism, students, arranging bespoke volunteer physical disability or health related at the Information opportunities, participating in their issue. Over the course of 6 weeks Design Jam, developing promotional students from local colleges in Hackney Point, that only films, and supporting Phd students in worked towards an Entry Level 3 works as well as it their research. accredited training in Customer Service. They learnt about the Park’s diverse does because of the 7 We know that the value to the Treasury of facilities, activities and events and getting a person into work who had been on JSA the range of careers available on the brilliant enthusiastic is £10,321 and the value to the economy of them Park-everything from Visitor Services being in work is £14,790. This uses data from volunteers I New Economy Manchester which is endorsed to security, engineering, cleaning and by a number of departments. For the 53 that were grounds maintenance. not working before, therefore, we believe that the work with.” combined value of getting people into work to date is at least £1,255,550. Ian, 8 British. Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (used Customer Services and Volunteer to refer to members of non-white communities in the UK) Duty Manager, Our Parklife

26 Local Employment and Training

6% of the workforce have a disability

Estimated 50 people working on the Park previously unemployed £1.3m of value created for the local economy7

70 Accredited training qualifications delivered 65% of the workforce are from a BAME background8

Supported 15 Apprentices 31% of the in Facilities workforce Management, are women Horticulture, Cleaning and 10 volunteers supported into employment Team Leading

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 27 “ We would like to thank Our Parklife for their help with young people with special educational needs in East London. Just 7% are in paid employment and schemes like this will go a long way to ensure that more young people with learning disabilities will gain paid employment in the future either at the Olympic Park or at similar thinking establishments.” Graham Smithers, Head of Services, Tower Project, Job Enterprise and Training Service (JET)

28 Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 29 Educational Visits

We want to inspire, raise aspirations Energy and Sustainability and improve educational attainment (Key Stage 3) – This visit begins the “The tour of the amongst school children and local in the Visitor Centre at Kings Yard, the Olympic Park groups. The Park is a fantastic place heart of the Park’s sustainable energy to explore, and learn. Whilst much of centre. After an introduction was extremely this can be done independently we also to energy production on the Park arrange Education visits that provide a students head onto the Park for a interesting and unique learning experience for students wider tour introducing them to the of all ages. Through these activities sustainability story. well organized. students are encouraged to explore As lift, escalator the spectacular parklands, hear from Career opportunities on the Park experts who work on the Park daily (Key Stage 4) – This Park walk gives and façade access and discover all that the Park has to students an insight into the many career offer. To date, we have provided tailored opportunities available are on the Park. consultants, we education visits for schools covering the Whether students are interested in following subject areas: sport, visitor services, construction, are always keen to hospitality, horticulture, events or Conservation and Biodiversity (Key engineering the Park is a great place know more about stages 1 and 2) – Students can to start a career. This visit is delivered explore the Parklands by completing in the context of the Park’s story and the other influences a Biodiversity Treasure trail, discover focuses on the legacy of the Games and key drivers on wetland habitats and ponds through and opportunities for local people now a supervised pond dipping session and in the future. major developments and take part in seasonal conservation activities (varies depending on the In 2016 we delivered 15 education visits linked to future- time of year). for a range of groups including: Hackney Community College, BSix College, CIBSE proofing, energy, Young Engineers, Harlow College, Ravensbourne School, Stormont School sustainability etc.” and William Davis Primary School. Emma Scott-Miller, D2E International VT Consultants Ltd

30 Educational Visits Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 31

3 community events held for local residents Over 70 training courses delivered in gardening and food growing

Dedicated user group established

The garden has welcomed over 3,300 visitors

32 Mobile Garden City Mobile Garden City

Mobile Garden City is a partnership Mobile Garden City provides them Located just over the road from project between Our Parklife, with a chance to get their hands dirty Chobham Academy the garden has Groundwork London, LLDC and other and engage with others in their local provided volunteer and learning third parties. It was developed to neighbourhood. sessions to alternative timetable create an active community use for students. These students benefit from pre-development sites on or near the Each month the garden is host time in the garden out of a formal Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and was to a range of workshops, events, classroom environment and have commissioned as part of the Growing volunteering opportunities and ways benefited in a number of ways from Links programme which focussed to engage in food growing. These their time in the garden. on establishing an active growing workshops are designed for people scene local to the Park. Most of the who want to learn simple new It was ‘Highly Commended’ by garden users are local residents, gardening skills or who would like to the Landscape Institute for its the majority of whom do not have start volunteering. achievements and as a project access to a garden or growing space. designed for temporary landscapes.

“I first started coming to Mobile Garden City in late summer 2015, after work on a Wednesday and immediately became hooked on growing my own, having been a keen forager and cook. I was very interested in growing food to reconnect with my roots in rural Wiltshire. I found it very hard to do this in London with only small balconies and patios but since we moved had nowhere to grow-until I found MGC!” Tom Bigglestone, Local resident

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 33 “ The garden is great and a whole lot of fun because it makes children want to go outside and do gardening”

34 Section “ The AQA Training sessions are informative, educational, inspirational and fun. What a great initiative, thank you so much for letting us to forage as well. Salad was yum.”

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 35 The Harvest Stomp

Our Parklife and the LLDC worked nn Awareness raising and celebration programme of food workshops, craft together to deliver the ‘Harvest Stomp’ of local community food growing demonstrations and entertainment. – a much-loved community festival initiatives, local food and at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. sustainable living There was also live music, barn The festival took place on Sunday 25 dancing, a 30 foot PIG- an immersive September and marked the end of nn Huge amounts of fun for everyone theatre production, a host of stalls Urban Food Fortnight 2016. - festival goers took part in selling locally produced food and stomping grapes, barn dancing, drink, bird box decorating and Building on the success of last year’s feasting on local produce, getting immersive performances on the inaugural festival, The Harvest Stomp creative discovering more about theme of food waste. 2016 delivered: the local community food scene. This year activities took place in The Harvest Stomp video: nn Community Engagement – attracting three large marquee style tents, https://www.youtube.com/ in excess of 3000 people from representing the themes of ‘Make, watch?v=4BWsBjIcF48 across London Grow, Do’. These tents hosted a

“Harvest Stomp was a storming success. It was wonderful to see so many local people joining in the celebrations on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We had some fantastic entries into the closely-fought Cream of the Crop contest and it was great to see everyone trying out various activities including barn dancing, Morris dancing, bulb planting and even pea fete games. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!” Paul Brickell, Executive Director of Regeneration and Community Partnerships, London Legacy Development Corporation

36 The Harvest Stomp Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 37 38 Consulting with our Stakeholders Consulting with our Stakeholders

Over the course of our second full and ideas, but also complete formal The Park Panel consultation year of operation Our Parklife has feedback questionnaires. A Park (led by LLDC) continued to engage with a growing Champion representative also attends number of stakeholders on the Park. the ‘Park Panel’ alongside other In March, Our Parklife attended the The services we deliver continue to community groups and businesses Park Panel to ensure that the group be designed and delivered closely who are consulted on numerous are fully aware of Our Parklife and with our client, the LLDC. In order to Park activities and developments. our role on the Park. This session was ensure our activities are embedded The LLDC is committed to The Park also used to consult on our proposals in the Park and benefit local people Champion programme being the for revenue generation proposals and we consult with our stakeholders in a ‘umbrella’ programme on the Park, gauge interest in further ways we could variety of ways. however numerous organisations involve local community groups in our have an interest in volunteering on decision making. Outcomes from this Volunteers and volunteer the Park. These include the Canal and session showed a strong support for programme partners River Trust, West Ham United, British increased provision of services such as Swimming, British Athletics, event merchandise sales and tour delivery. We have over 850 volunteers registered organisers, University College London on our programme, and over 1800 on a and Loughborough University London. The Park Engagement Group wider distribution list. We send monthly As volunteer opportunities on the (led by LLDC) newsletters, hold get-togethers and Park continue to evolve we will work social events, and end the year with a with these stakeholders to ensure Our Parklife continues to attend and celebration event. Volunteers provide volunteering is accessible, inclusive and input into monthly Park Engagement us with ongoing feedback on our promotes best practice. group meetings where operators, programme ensuring we’re constantly developers, organisations, institutions aware of their thoughts and local authority representatives with a Community development remit meet to discuss their activities, share ideas and collaborate on projects.

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 39 Customer and Mobility Services Employment and training Our Parklife has over 500 followers on Twitter and actively promotes opportunities Gaining feedback from Park users on programmes and activities whilst their visit is fundamental to the success We involve a number of local engaging with local businesses and of the Park; however we have focused organisations in the promotion of our those interested in our work. specifically on gaining feedback on training and employment opportunities, our Customer and Mobility Services. ensuring that local communities are Events Users of the Mobility services provide provided with appropriate levels of Our Parklife leads on the delivery of feedback which continues to reaffirm the support to access jobs on the Park. a range of community events, whilst importance of the mobility service and This includes local jobs brokerages, supporting many others. This includes role of the volunteers. We also continue Groundwork London and Renaisi The Harvest Stomp (attracting over 3000 to involve the BEAP (Built Environment networks, Apprenticeship providers and local people), the annual Park Champion Access Panel) in our service delivery, numerous local online forums. and have also set up a Mobility Service Celebration event (involving over 100 local volunteers), Disabled Access membership scheme. This group of Online and Social media regular Mobility service users will also Day and events at the Mobile Garden be involved in shaping the service in Our Parklife has its own dedicated City. Each of these events provides 2017. Guide Dogs UK and local Visually website where we outline who we are, both casual and formal ways for local Impaired groups are also continually our services, regular news updates and communities to provide us with feedback involved in helping us shape our Sighted employment opportunities. This can be on our services. Guiding service. viewed at www.ourparklife.co.uk

Park Champions can also access

information on our programme and

engage with us via a dedicated

Facebook group.

40 Consulting with our Stakeholders Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 41 Aims for 2017

Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Revenue generation and existing groups, panels and platforms service development it’s important this is appropriate and Our Parklife has embarked on a constructive. In 2017 we will continue process to work towards the UK A key aim for Our Parklife in 2017 to look at innovative approaches to quality standard for good practice in will be to develop our services and developing a Community Board. volunteer management; ‘Investing in opportunities to generate revenue. As new stakeholders continue to arrive Volunteers’ (IiV). This will progress our long term aim to on the Park we will be looking at ways to be able to fully fund our programmes Investing in Volunteers helps work together. and services once current funding organisations who work with volunteers streams subside. Our Parklife currently to check the quality of their management Developing new and generates small amounts of revenue and involvement, prove and improve the through the services it offers (Mobility, innovative ways to support effectiveness of their work and enhance Corporate Volunteering, Training local people into jobs on the organisation’s reputation. delivery etc.) but recognises exciting the Park Our Parklife is committed to managing opportunities to develop these further the Park’s volunteer programme to the as the Park evolves. Early in 2016 Our Our Parklife partners ENGIE and highest standards, ensuring volunteer Parklife commissioned consultants to idverde are committed to employing opportunities are rewarding, fun, support in the development of business local people on the Park within the EFM and provide something for everyone. plans and provide advice on how we can contract. With a collective workforce By going through the Investing in take these further. of approximately 230 both businesses Volunteers accreditation process we can are always looking to nurture emerging ensure we’re promoting best practice Consulting with our local talent and supporting those who volunteering on the Park. stakeholders may have been out of the working world for some time. Our Parklife will continue We have a commitment to introduce a to support ENGIE and idverde in finding Community Board and are passionate candidates for their Apprenticeship, about engaging the local community in Graduate, Internship and ILM our activities. However, with numerous training programmes.

42 Aims for 2017 Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 43 Appendices

Appendix 1 Volunteer hour breakdown

701 Customer and Mobility Service

Conservation 2990 Sports and Venues

729 8412 Events 867 Other - Training, get togethers

Our volunteers’ employment status

Employed full time 8% Employed part time 18% 29% Students Not in paid work (not seeking work) 10% 12% Unemployed (seeking work) 6% 17% Retired Other

44 Appendices Where our student volunteers come from

Loughborough University London Queen Mary University 25% of London UAL - University of 50% Arts London 9% UCL - University College London UEL - University of 9% 2% East London 5% Other

Where our volunteers come from

Newham

20% Hackney 5% Tower Hamlets 51% 6% 18% Waltham Forest Other

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 45 Age group 1%

15% Under 16 21% 17-25

26-44 24% 39% 45-64

65+

Volunteer ethnicity

2% 2% 1% White 5% Asian / Asian British 12% Black / African / Caribbean / Black British Mixed / Multiple 78% ethnic groups Any other ethnic group

Not revealed

46 AppendicesSection Appendix 2 Mobility Service Delivery statistics

Our Park Mobility Service began as a pilot programme in 2014. Since then it’s grown from strength to strength and now, coupled with a wider Customer Service programme has helped over 73,500 Park Visitors in 2016.

Total number of customers assisted through Mobility Services

2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Scooter hires

120

100

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 47 Wheelchair hires

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Buggy pickups

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

48 AppendicesSection Buggy loops of the park

300

250

200

150

100

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Wheelchair users on the buggy

9 8

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Our Parklife Annual Report 2016 49 Customers helped whilst out on the Park

600

500

600

500

400

300

200

100

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

Sighted Guiding customers

0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

2014 2015 2016

50 AppendicesSection Photo credit: Adele Lefebvre, Rowan Longhurst, Paul Harper, Gabrielle Boraston, Carmen Valino and Rahil Ahmad.

OurOur Parklife Parklife Annual Annual Report Report 2015/16 2016 51 Ourparklife.co.uk @OurParkLifeCIC