Free Range Kids Project Middlesbrough Environment City has been awarded a grant of £62,484 from the Big Lottery Fund for a two year project to encourage children and young people to become more physically active and improve their life skills. The “Free Range Kids” project will provide a range of challenging outdoor activities through the exploration of the natural environment of the town. In particular, the project will use the Forest Schools approach of encouraging children to use woodlands in active and contemplative play, through activities such as hide and seek, den building, journal writing and storytelling. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the day to day management and delivery of the project. The role will include developing links with partner organisations, providing sessions for children and also working with parents and carers to develop their play skills, enabling them to enjoy more active outdoor play activities with their children. The project will take place across Middlesbrough, with a particular focus on areas where there is a particular health and educational need. The project builds on and expands work that was undertaken around outdoor play through the Middlesbrough Healthy Town Programme and links with the continuing priority in Middlesbrough of increasing physical activity to tackle obesity and also to improve aspirations and attainment amongst children and young people. The post is offered on a two year fixed term basis.
MIDDLESBROUGH ENVIRONMENT CITY BACKGROUND INFORMATION FACT SHEET Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) was established in 1992 through national competition. It was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in June 1997 and received Charitable status in June 1998. Middlesbrough is one of four Environment Cities in the UK. The aim of the Environment City initiative is to demonstrate ways of managing cities and large towns in ways that are more environmentally sustainable, improving the quality of people’s lives without harming the environment. The Environment Cities pursue this aim by forming partnerships, and Middlesbrough Environment City works closely with Middlesbrough Council, public sector organisations, local businesses, voluntary sector groups and local communities to create a more sustainable town. Middlesbrough Council has adopted a One Planet Living (OPL) Framework approach to delivering sustainability in the town. Middlesbrough Environment City is a partner in the OPL Programme and has a particular role in terms of community engagement in the OPL process. OPL is a global initiative based on 10 principles, which define what sustainability means in an easy to understand way. The model was developed by international charities BioRegional and WWF. The OPL concept is based on acknowledging that the world’s resources are limited. At present the UK population is using resources as though society had three planets to support it. For the long-term maintenance of reasonable living conditions, our demands must be reduced to one planet, but the challenge is to do this by improving environmental conditions and local well-being in an affordable way. OPL is described in terms of 10 principles that include basic principles of environmental sustainability such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels and tackling waste, through to wider quality of life issues such as culture, heritage, health and happiness. MEC, with its partners, undertakes a range of practical, demonstration and awarenessraising projects each year. Current and recent activities include:
Coordinating a programme of Urban Farming in Middlesbrough, including planning the annual Town Meal, working with community groups on growing projects and delivering training in growing skills; Working with Middlesbrough Council to deliver community engagement linked to Middlesbrough’s Climate Change Community Action Plan; Running the Middlesbrough Cycle Centre, which provides a secure cycle storage facility for commuters and visitors, and running safe cycling and cycle maintenance training events with schools, community and youth groups; Running energy saving projects, including schemes to encourage vulnerable residents to take up energy efficiency measures; Developing and undertaking new projects and initiatives that link health and environmental sustainability; Education work with local schools and community groups; Working with other partners on the restoration of heritage sites in the town including Linthorpe cemetery and the graves of the ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan.