ecoACTIVE’s Accomplishments in 2022-23
Throughout 2022-23, ecoACTIVE achieved significant milestones across various initiatives, contributing to environmental education, community engagement, and sustainable living.
Last week we hosted our annual AGM. It was a chance to take stock of the amazing progress we’ve made as a charity and a glimpse at the exciting future that lies ahead.
We wanted to thank everyone that has been involved including funders, trustees, staff, session workers, volunteers, partners and everyone who has donated to our campaigns.
By taking a glance at some of the figures below I think you’ll agree that a small charity can have a massive impact on the community.
Engagement in Educational Settings
Sessions Delivered
A total of 194 sessions were conducted in schools and community settings.
Participants Engaged
The organisation actively involved 1,785 children or young people along with 540 adults.
Regional Reach
Operations spanned across 9 London Boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, and Westminster.
Additionally, 9 sessions were carried out beyond London or in remote setups.
Forest School Programs
Supported by the Lottery Community Fund and Sanctuary, ecoACTIVE orchestrated three forest school programs comprising 26 sessions at Hackney Marsh and Shoreditch Adventure Playgrounds.
Forest School Impact
Engaging 49 young individuals, the program significantly influenced their confidence, social skills, well-being, and connection to nature, as observed and reported by participants.
Community Garden Network Project
Supported by City Bridge Trust, Sanctuary, Our Space Award, Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association, the Tudor Trust and Morrisons Foundation.
ecoACTIVE supported 244 residents across 12 community gardens in Hackney.
The initiative included 28 training sessions and active participation in 16 community events, enhancing both knowledge and community engagement.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the experience, highlighting the positive impact on mental health and the joy of outdoor activities and nurturing organic produce.
Green Influencers
With support from Sanctuary, iWill Fund, Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport, National Lottery Community Fund and The Ernst Cook Trust.
ecoACTIVE's Green Mentor conducted 32 sessions involving 60 young individuals, aiding them in initiating and managing their social action projects.
Green Influencer Impact
The program not only improved participants' well-being and nature connection but also honed new skills, fostering teamwork, motivation, communication, and confidence.
89% of pupils felt their project helped them work better as part of a team
83% felt that their project had helped them to motivate others
83% of respondents felt that they had improved their communication skills
78% felt that they had increased their self-confidence/self-esteem
Gardening Together Project
Supported by The National Lottery, Sport England, Hackney Council and King’s Park Moving Together.
Spearheaded by the Postcode Gardener, 15 sessions engaged 43 adults and 34 children in the King’s Park ward.
Participants actively contributed to enhancing biodiversity while relishing the joys of community engagement and physical activity.
Partnerships for People and Place Grant
Collaborating with Hackney Council, the Postcode Gardener facilitated 13 sessions at Kingsmead Community Centre, benefiting six residents aged 50+.
The program focused on skill development, community bonding, and the improvement of communal spaces.
Environmental Learning Pilot
ecoACTIVE embarked on a pilot scheme in partnership with The Leaside Trust to conduct environmental learning sessions at the River Lea site, introducing new workshops targeting waste reduction and river conservation.
Earth Education
We delivered 64 sessions to 1,485 young people and 338 adults, ecoACTIVE promoted environmental education through school workshops, community activities, and employee training.
Carpenters Estate, Newham
ecoACTIVE conducted nine after-school sessions at the Carpenters Estate, engaging families to learn about wildlife conservation, waste reduction, and energy preservation.
ecoACTIVE's diverse initiatives in 2022-23 showcased a commitment to education, community involvement, and sustainable practices, fostering positive impacts across multiple spheres of environmental awareness and engagement.
ecoACTIVE's Plans for the future
As we stride forward, ecoACTIVE is poised to embark on an exciting journey, expanding our initiatives and venturing into innovative projects that promise to make a meaningful impact on our environment and communities.
Continuing Impactful Initiatives
Our Community Garden Network Project remains steadfast, thanks to the unwavering support from City Bridge Trust, Clarion Futures, Our Space Award, and Sanctuary Housing. This project continues to bloom, nurturing green spaces and fostering community engagement.
Extending the Reach of Forest Schools
Our Forest School Programme sees a delightful extension, made possible by the generous funding from Portal Trust, L&Q, and a local Hackney School. This extension allows us to offer more immersive nature-based learning experiences to young minds.
Sustainable Growth in King’s Park
The success of the King’s Park Gardening Together Project continues to thrive, thanks to the backing from KPMT, Sport England, and Hackney Council. We're nurturing green spaces, fostering community interaction, and promoting biodiversity.
Expanding Environmental Learning at Leaside Trust
April 2023 marked a pivotal move for us as we transitioned to Leaside Trust's site, leveraging their purpose-built classroom to continue delivering impactful environmental learning workshops. This move signifies a deeper commitment to educating and empowering future generations.
Corporate Outreach and Youth Empowerment
Our commitment to sustainability transcends boundaries. We will persist in conducting online and face-to-face corporate webinars, advocating for sustainable practices. Additionally, our newly formed Youth Advisory Board, comprising passionate individuals aged 16-25, will steer the charity's direction and influence our approach.
Pioneering the Hackney Buzzline Project
A groundbreaking initiative unfolds as we work towards establishing a 4 km ecological flower corridor in Hackney. This project aims to support pollinators while nurturing biodiversity, promoting sustainable transportation, fostering community cohesion, and experimenting with innovative urban conservation approaches.
Excerpt from Chair’s Report
A common theme in the work we do is around impact. What happens because of what we provide? We find out the impact of our work through the feedback we receive.
In our forest schools, work with primary age children, the feedback of this is that children thrive and gain confidence, feel connected with nature. Accounts of how a child who was previously unengaged in a classroom setting, becoming active outdoors in the fresh air is moving and reminds us about why we do this and why this type of work is important.
This engagement with nature is repeated in all our projects –green influences work with teenager’s records that our sessions unleashed their creativity.
Feedback from our community gardens and postcode gardener projects share that participants were feeling physically healthier and stronger after attending our sessions.
All of our projects – workshops included show the positive impact on mental well-being, self-confidence, and increased time spent outdoors in nature. And really validates the message we are sharing
As ecoACTIVE steps into this new chapter, our commitment to sustainability, environmental education, and community engagement remains resolute. Join us on this transformative journey as we strive to create a greener, more connected, and sustainable future for all.
