Volunteer Network Centre, Newham

What is the aim of Civic Pride?

"Civic Pride is aimed at increasing awareness of the Recycling Agenda and encouraging others to practice the same within their home and working environments. This is being achieved through ongoing Civic Pride presentations to a combination of audiences ranging from residential, community & faith groups, organizations including registered charities & non profit organizations in addition to educational institutes throughout our home borough of Newham. The other objective is to continuously grow the existing "Civic Pride Team", which in the last six weeks has had over 30 people register their interest in being somehow involved with the project and participate in the free Civic Pride Induction and Presentation Training sessions designed to involve and support those interested. Each member of the team will be regarded as a "Civic Pride Ambassador" once having gone through required presentation training, which can be at their own pace whilst also being supported by me and my colleagues working at The Volunteer Network Centre in Newham (VNC), that being the registered charity and non profit organization selected as the partner that was awarded the contract from London Borough of Newham's Culture & Community Commissioning Program. Needless to say after having gone through the fun, enjoyable and interactive Civic Pride Training participants will receive a VNC certificate accrediting them as a "Civic Pride Ambassador".

During the training process people are also given opportunities to assist in giving presentations that I facilitate within Newham's wider community. We regard each person's involvement as valued use of their personal time. We also hope that anyone that get's involved will also realize the personal benefits to them in that they will have understood the Recycling Agenda, learnt new skills as part of the project preparation Volunteering Opportunities, made new friends whilst having fun and increasing their confidence, essentially raising an individuals self esteem, which for those that might be searching for employment may be very important allowing them a better opportunity to find work too!

Civic Pride also aims to increase awareness of the need to Reduce litter and graffiti from neighborhoods and promote the idea of a Clean & Green environment promotes healthier living amongst communities which can therefore increase community cohesion and result in Safer Neighborhoods! "

Sanjay Mehra (Civic Pride Manager)

Additional information

During the process of managing this project I have called upon the expertise of others that have specialized in recycling matters or litter projects which demonstrates the Civic Pride project as working in Partnership with organizations and charities namely Shanks, CleanupUK part of Keep Britain Tidy, Newham Reuse Group, Homestore, Forest Recycling Project and The Wombles.

We aim to make sure that the two main objectives of Civic Pride are achieved.

Please express your interest by contacting The Civic Pride team.

Tel:- 020 8536 1937

E-mail:- civicpride@vncnewham.co.uk

Join the Civic Pride 'Ning' Network.

Join the Newham Reuse Group.

Read the May 2009 Civic Pride Newsletter.