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The Future Is Greener For Falkirk Youth

Green Action Project Honours Final Group of Volunteers at Ceremony

The Waterways Trust recognised the hard work of the final intake of ‘Green Action’ project volunteers who have completed conservation work in the Falkirk area over the last 12 weeks.

The last project volunteers were presented with certificates by the Provost, Pat Reid at a ceremony at the Action Outdoors Centre in Brightons, near Falkirk yesterday (Thursday, 24 March).

This celebration marks the end of the successful ‘Green Action’ initiative, which over the past two years has worked with over 80 young volunteers, aged 16 to 24, from around the Falkirk area.

The volunteers, many of whom have learning difficulties, worked over 3,500 hours, delivering vital projects for the benefit of the local community in Brightons, along the canal and at The Falkirk Wheel.

From building an outdoor classroom, to creating new access paths around the canal, as well as sprucing up the countryside and building new benches for all to enjoy, the groups have worked tirelessly on a range of conservation tasks, developing skills for life.

Over 20 previous volunteers have already gone on to employment, training or further education after completing the programme and it is expected more will follow over the coming months.

Karen Moore, development director, The Waterways Trust Scotland, said: “This has been a life-changing initiative for all involved. We have welcomed 83 young people and given them a chance to learn new skills and gain confidence in their own ability to succeed. They have all worked incredibly hard and should be very proud of what they have achieved.

“Green Action not only helped the volunteers to develop a range of transferable skills, it has also had such a positive and noticeable impact on the local community, benefiting us all.

“Initiatives like this can provide a crucial pathway for some of our young people to learn more about themselves in a relaxed and fun environment, building their confidence and helping them to learn new skills which will set them on a career path for life.”

Over the past two years the young people on the programme have also received 40 Millennium Volunteer Awards, 30 John Muir Awards and six Youth Achievement Awards.

Provost, Pat Reid added: “The ‘Green Action’ initiative has delivered impressive work in our community and I’m pleased to be able to mark the end of a much appreciated project. I wish all of the young people on the programme every success in the future.

“Falkirk Council is fully committed to this project and the ‘Scotland’s got Talent campaign which seeks out job opportunities for those with learning difficulties.”

As well as the practical skills element to the programme, volunteers also received help with compiling CVs, application forms and had interview coaching during the project.

Green Action was a collaborative effort between The Waterways Trust Scotland, BTCV Scotland, Action Outdoors and British Waterways Scotland, funded by Voluntary Action Fund and Linkwide through Wider Role (financed by the Scottish Government).

Some Projects Completed:

Action Outdoors, Brightons:

• Built an outdoor classroom
• Created new access paths
• Built wooden stairways
• Planted a native hedgerow and garden
• Built large wooden planters
• Planted trees

Falkirk Wheel:

• Planted trees
• Built and installed wooden benches

Falkirk Wheel Nature Trail:

• Created new and improved existing access paths
• Built bird and bat boxes
• Built a dry stane dyke
• Creation of a wetland area
• Created numerous wildlife habitat piles
• Planted a wildflower meadow

On the canal:

• Painted British Waterways lock railing
• Maintenance paintwork on Avon Aqueduct

The Waterways Trust Scotland is part of The Waterways Trust, a registered charity, and works to promote greater public enjoyment and awareness of the UK’s waterways by raising funds for waterway restoration, conservation, recreation and education.

The Waterways Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee, Registered in England No 3728156 Charity No 1074541 and Scotland SCO39564

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