Well, here we are having moved on from our original start where we were meeting in the Come the Revolution Cafe which has now unfortunately closed. However, people are still meeting together in smaller groups and doing some interesting things. The Trade Union Education Centre at Lewisham College will soon be hosting some of the next evening meetings in the College so that we can pull things together a bit more. Meanwhile, we have run another excellent Environmental Awareness courses in partnership with Lakehouse at the North Downham Training Centre.
We are starting to add useful resources and photos to this blog so do let us know more what you are up to. Every job now has a green element so together we need to promote 'Green jobs are decent jobs, with decent pay and conditions' and that there are thousands of jobs to be created. Green skills for the future, rain - water harvesting, solar energy, horticulture, loft and cavity wall insulation, recycling are just a few.
We are particularly interested in working with local workplaces, large and small, trade unions and community groups.
We have trained 60 Discussion Leaders on Enviromental Awareness with the skills to run sessions with others.
Have a look at our blog for the latest opportunities for training and getting involved in community projects to utilise local trades and skills to re-fit empty properties and provide local jobs.
Green Gown Award Winner
Lewisham College incorparating Southwark College won the Learning and Skills award. The Judges said " This is an example of a learning and skills network with strong community engagement. It represents an outstanding contribution, innovatively providing skills training for hard to reach individuals. The employability aspects are portable across the sectors and will be sustained through community and employer networks and The Green Skills Partnership."
Happy New Year
The new year brings the gathering together of some of the orginal people as the New Leaf Co-op with the aim to start new projects to help people in the community be more energy efficent.
The groups first meeting was held on Monday 14th following with Monthly meetings the 3rd Monday of each month at 19.00 in The Ravensbourne Arms Ladywell. All welcome.
Green Skills Partnership's new logo is the start of a three year plan from various organisations to promote green jobs and training. Another developement is combined training groups Constructive Futures and Think Twice, based at East Malling, Kent had their first meeting (picture on right) to start planning future sustainability courses.Environmental association universities colleges (Eauc) annual conference saw lewisham College now lesoco (lewishamSouthwarkCollege), as last years Green Gown (learning and skills) winner, demonstration a diy solar pv panel from recycled materials including the solar cells. The photo shows the stand and final solar panel at the East Midland Conference Centre University of Nottingham .
Would love to hear from you.
Kirsty Dunlop
Trade Union Studies
Lewisham College
Tel: 020 8694 3424
Email: kirsty.dunlop@lewisham.ac.uk
