THE PROSPECTS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2016 - 2017 FORWARD FROM THE CHAIRMAN MISSION AND THEMES Next year in December we will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Foundation – although The PROSPECTS Foundation is Hyndburn’s community owned environmental charity and we are PROSPECTS as a whole has already passed that milestone. This means we are approaching the time to something of a unique and wonderful organisation. We were established in 1998 by local people and reflect on what we have all achieved together. But there is no time to sit back on our laurels - this year have lots of skills and environmental knowledge which we use and pass on when delivering projects we look forward to continuing the good work. around the Borough. We support a network of PROSPECTS Panels as well as schools and community groups to help them develop their own ideas to improve the environment. In the tumultuous and “interesting” political year we have just seen, the environment, as ever, has been pushed to the back seat. While President Trump rows back on US commitments to combatting climate We focus our work on 6 Themes of Sustainability, which means that our actions are not harmful to change our own Government has signalled its policy of reliance on fossil fuels by consenting fracking the environment, they take account of both local and global issues and positively contribute to the in Lancashire. Globally environmental indicators are not good – habitat loss, species extinction rates, reduction of climate change. Our 6 Themes are: ocean plastic, city air quality, loss of polar ice - you could get discouraged! BIODIVERSITY One interesting reflection though is that experience shows that giving up, just sitting back and expecting protecting and enhancing local wildlife and plant life “them” to come up with solutions is not going to get us very far. Contributions to solving environmental problems are needed at all levels – including the individual, the group and the community. That’s why ENERGY PROSPECTS exists – to raise awareness and encourage action. promoting energy conservation and the use of renewables SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT The Foundation is of course the facilitator of most of the things that happen within PROSPECTS. We encouraging cycling, walking and the greater use of public transport work with communities, volunteers and organisations to make real the things that other people want to achieve for the environment. In the process many people are involved – funders, partner organisations, WASTE & RECYCLING agencies, our own staff and trustees, land-owners, local authorities and of course the whole voluntary reducing, reusing and recycling waste sector. LOCAL FOOD encourage the growing of local, organic and healthy food There is, as ever, no shortage of good ideas for things that could and should be done but funding does not get any easier. The overall financial situation has made a significant impact on the voluntary sector ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS and competition for resources is fierce. An extreme case maybe - but one recent funding programme raising awareness of environmental issues became over-subscribed and closed within twenty minutes of launch! The need to be distinctive and effective is sharper than ever. Interestingly though, the extreme squeeze on local authority budgets raises some new potential opportunities to realise benefits for nature and local people that will require us to adopt a cautious but imaginative approach.... Watch this space! Over the last year we have managed to maintain all our mainstream activities – environmental awareness, community food growing, nature conservation and the Windfall Fund - as well as supporting our two community owned businesses, Woody and One Planet Shop, both of which are doing well. Over the next year or two we look to maintain these activities as well as looking at new opportunities. Many thanks to everyone, no matter how great or small your involvement with PROSPECTS. PHILIP VINCENT-BARWOOD MBE March 2017 2 3 OUR VALUES ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCE • Secured funding from 15 different funders to support our work • 18 new local projects received Windfall funding totalling over £72,000 • The Windfall grants ranged from £200 to £13,676 • 6,500 volunteer hours were contributed to our projects, valued at over £90,000 • Over 700 different people attended activities/courses • Worked on over 20 different sites across the Borough • Took 1 community group on a tour of the wind farm • Ran more than 50 different community events/activities/courses • Held a very successful Woodland Day in September in Bullough Park with over 15 stalls and 150 visitors on the day • Held ongoing discussions with Lancashire County Council over the future of woodland sites in Hyndburn following the announcement of the proposed closure of the County Council Countryside Service • Became a ‘Local Cause’ for Co-op shoppers • Our training centre at Oakhill Park has been used over 30 times for practical workshops and training days • Attended the Lancashire Schools Sustainability conference at St Christopher’s School in Accrington and ran workshops for primary and secondary pupils We have a set of values which guide the way we work and direct the work we do: • Over 190 individuals gained an AQA certificate in at least one subject • Over 40 different AQA courses delivered • We value our environment, both local and global and respect its uniqueness and fragility • Carried out a series of consultation events including an online survey, written questionnaires and • We are committed to the principle of environmental sustainability face to face events for a new food project we are developing • We act as a catalyst for positive environmental change and work to organic principles • Improved our media profile including radio interviews, TV and lots of local press coverage • We believe in working collaboratively for our environment • Worked with a number of new partner organisations including the Ribble Rivers Trust, Mid Pennine • We believe that local people acting in their own right or collectively can reduce their carbon footprint Arts and The Haworth Art Gallery by changing their behaviour and practices • We are a people based organisation which is rooted in local communities • We seek to work for the benefit of all communities both present and future • We believe everyone has a positive contribution to make and we are committed to equality of opportunity for all • We believe that a green environment and active participation directly contribute to mental health and wellbeing • We work ethically 4 5 OUR FUNDED PROJECTS OUR FUNDED PROJECTS Over the last 12 months we have been funded by a variety of organisations/funds to deliver our core business ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS of environmental sustainability. This can be broken down into the following projects: • Project that encompasses almost everything we do from sending out press releases, giving radio interviews, running courses and workshops, holding AQA certificate presentations, guiding walks and CONNECTING PEOPLE TO HYNDBURN’S NATURAL HERITAGE holding/attending events, funded by Awards for All, NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group • A 2.5 year funded project working on the two proposed Local Nature Reserve sites in Accrington – Peel Prescription for Wellbeing Grants (CCG) and The Windfall Fund. Park & the Coppice and Woodnook Vale funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. • Ran a very successful series of workshops covering activities ranging from Beginners Fretsaw, Waste • Key objectives are to involve volunteers in improving and protecting the natural heritage of the sites Glass Decorations, Upcycling Silver Jewellery to Willow Bird Feeders, Pour and Set Soy Candles and through regular work days; to create a programme of activities whereby schools, community groups and Foraging for Food and Herbs. volunteers can learn about the natural and historical heritage of the sites; and to establish a community- • Held a very successful Woodland Day in September to celebrate all that happens in woodlands and to led Volunteer Ranger Service for the two sites. promote who we are and what we do! WHINNEY HILL GREEN SPACE THE WINDFALL FUND • Aim of the project was to improve access into and through Whinney Hill, to encourage greater use of the • The community benefit fund associated with the wind farm on Oswaldtwistle Moor. site and to enhance the existing flora and fauna through habitat management. • Available for community groups to carry out environmental projects across the Borough. • A habitat survey was commissioned from Lancashire Wildlife Trust to guide the management of the • Three levels of funding available - Mini – grants up to £250; Small - grants from £250 to £2,000; and site. Contractors were commissioned to deal with Japanese Knotweed, thin the existing woodland and Large - grants above £2,000. construct a new 625m footpath to link Whinney Hill Road entrance to the existing path network and to • In the last 12 months 18 new projects were funded totalling over £72,000 and covered all our themes of Livingstone Road. sustainability. • Community surveys and leafleting was done initially to encourage interest, gain an idea of local issues with the site and to inform residents of the planned work. WOODY • A woodland management social enterprise set up by PROSPECTS in 2012 to help pro-actively manage CONNECTING WITH NATURE Hyndburn woodlands. • A 2.5 days/week year-long programme that provided environmental taster sessions providing a wide • Run by volunteers and works