Council unveiled as City of Service in volunteer scheme
Telford & Wrekin Council has been unveiled as one of seven Cities of Service, a new scheme set up to encourage volunteers across the borough to help tackle local problems.
The Cities of Service programme aims to involve volunteers in helping to solve the big issues within a city or area through local projects.
Over the next 18 months the seven “Cities” will use their new status to encourage volunteers to go out into communities and address neighbourhood issues.
Each of the councils has set out their individual challenges in their service plans. In Telford and Wrekin, the council will be developing a number of volunteering projects across the borough that focus on improving the appearance of local neighbourhoods and increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables that people eat by growing their own.
Volunteers will be able to get involved in a wide range of activities including improving areas of open space, raising awareness of environmental issues and managing a local tool library.
Volunteers will also be able to access training and support to grow their own fruit and vegetables and will be able to join a local gardening group.
The projects aim to increase residents’ pride in their local area, improve access to fruit and veg and to increase people’s levels of physical activity.
The programme will begin with a trial, focusing in six neighbourhoods, with a view to rolling it out further in the future.
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member with responsibility for the Voluntary Sector and Cooperative Council Development, said: “We’re really pleased to have been selected as one of the Cities of Service.
“We want local people to get more involved in their local area and help them to feel pride in the place where they live.
“We also want people to be able to have the skills and tools to be able to grow their own fruit and vegetables and to enjoy the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle.
“The Cities of Service scheme will complement our Pride In Your Community project and help us to engage with local residents to improve their local area.”
The Cities of Service programme is being developed as part of the Centre for Social Action Innovation Fund, and is co-funded by Cabinet Office and Nesta with support from the Cities of Service coalition in the US and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd has stressed his support for the programme: “Often the key to solving local challenges is simply tapping into the knowledge of those living in the community itself and that’s why we’re excited about bringing Cities of Service to the UK.”
