IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020
Creating a Sustainable City
Charity Registration Number 1177761 1
0121 448 0119 info@ecobirmingham.com
www.ecobirmingham.com @ecobirmingham
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR We usually end with a thank you, but I’d like to begin by extending a huge thank you for all of the support, value, perspectives, wisdom, passion and creativity that we have had from our volunteers, staff, trustees, funders, partners, friends and participants. 2019/20 has really felt like the city is beginning to come together to take steps to tackle the climate crisis we all face. Those steps are still far too small and too slow but we are helping to build the momentum. We have seen movements including the School Strike for Climate and Extinction Rebellion expanding, and we have been part of the Route to Zero taskforce set up by Birmingham City Council after it declared a climate emergency in June 2019. Our work as part of the Greener Birmingham Coalition has allowed us to listen deeply to what communities need, expect and aspire to, and to use that to influence decision makers in the city. Working in partnership has strengthened our collective voice, power, understanding and possibilities. I’m immensely proud of our achievements including our work to support young people to undertake positive and meaningful work experiences with us and the impact made by working with faith communities to reduce their impact on the planet. There are many challenges to rise to including how we build back our city and communities post COVID-19. We will need to be bold, sensitive, inclusive and creative in how we support people to live more sustainably, locally and communally in the future. More than ever, we are committed to listening to the needs of people and being responsive to what they need right now in order to build the future they and future generations deserve. Michael Addison Director
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OUR MISSION AND VALUES To enable Birmingham to become a sustainable city. We exist to affect social change and transition towards low-carbon and sustainable lifestyles. By inspiring and supporting communities and organisations across Birmingham to take positive action, we will demonstrate that building low carbon communities brings benefits, opportunities and wellbeing to everyone, whilst protecting the environment. We retain the ethos and values of our Quaker heritage, continuing to fundraise ethically, operate fairly, inclusively and transparently whilst taking a leadership role in environmental sustainability.
Our key focuses from 2019-22 are to: • Help disadvantaged communities come back stronger post-pandemic • Tackle air pollution • Reduce the city’s reliance on fossil fuels • Minimise the city’s impact on the planet
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2019/2020
IN NUMBERS
£1
£6.53 For every £1 of income we deliver £6.53 of social value
1565
3200
attended our events and courses to improve their knowledge of how to live more sustainably
2344
attendances at our two community gardens where people developed food skills
donated hours of volunteer time
66
41
People learnt and became more confident in maintaining their bike
274
1305
Refill Stations in the city by end of March 2020 (up from 59 in March 2019)
children involved in outdoor learning to increase their knowledge, understanding and connection to the natural world
5
Hosted 5 interns from Germany, Denmark, UAE and the UK, equivalent to 37 full-time weeks, supporting routes into the environment sector
children with Autism, Aspergers, Dyspraxia and/or Hypermobility were taught, or are in the process of learning to ride a bicycle
399
people increased their cycling levels by attending our led cycle rides, with 2812 miles cycled between them - equivalent to Birmingham to Stockholm and back!
Digital footprint increased by
Website visits up by
60%
15%
160
adults and children taught to cycle, starting their sustainable cycling journey
Social media reach and impressions increased by
16%
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A GREENER CITY We use the arts, education and the latest technologies to engage people creatively in projects that provoke debate and inspire action. We’re also committed to improving access to and understanding of the natural world for people across the city. Using Forest School, Craftivism and Permaculture principles, we teach about conserving the environment through experiential learning and habitat creation.
We offer: • Outdoor holiday clubs • Family forest school sessions • Family gardening sessions • Bee and pollinators education sessions • Environmental and mini-craftivists workshops for schools and community groups • Arts projects
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WILD HOLIDAY BUNCH During 2019/20 our educational sessions in the community included 10 Wild Holiday Bunch outdoor Summer School sessions for 7-11 year old nature explorers to teach the importance of the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment. In partnership with Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust at their Deer’s Leap Wood site, the project was part of the Happy Healthy Holidays consortium which delivered healthy meals, nutrition education, enrichment and physical activity for children in need over the Summer holidays. Someone rescued this area [Deer’s Leap Wood]... I want to do the same and follow in their footsteps.”
NATIONAL TREE WEEK As part of National Tree Week, 132 children from 8 different primary schools in Birmingham attended free workshops to teach the next generation about the importance of trees through storytelling and games. All schools were gifted trees to be planted on their grounds. 289 children also attended bee education sessions, teaching the next generation about the importance of pollinators and preserving/creating habitats.
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GETTING BIRMINGHAM MOVING
We teach all ages and abilities to cycle and offer: • Cycle tuition for children and adults • Route finder sessions • Bike maintenance classes for children and adults
Birmingham currently has illegal levels of air pollution and 41% of journeys under 2 miles in the West Midlands are made by car. We promote and advocate for sustainable transport and infrastructure across the city. Using sustainable, active transport such as walking or cycling will not only reduce air pollution, but help the physical and mental health of Birmingham’s citizens too.
• Social, group led rides • Cycling for children with Autism, Aspergers, Dyspraxia and Hypermobility • Cycle to work schemes
We really appreciate the patience and time the Cycle South Brum team spent [helping our daughter]. After being told by an occupational therapist that she would probably never ride a bike, we’re so pleased that she finally managed it. Another life skill ticked off the list!” 8
As part of our Cycling with Autism project, 41 children with Autism, Aspergers, Dyspraxia and/or Hypermobility were taught, or are in the process of learning to ride a bicycle, helping them to become more independent, and helping their families on their eco journey. We gave Autism awareness training to our freelance and volunteer instructors and trained 4 new instructors to enable more children across the city to benefit from lessons. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to ride a bike.
Working with two cycling advocates in business, we set up the Cycling Works for Birmingham website. It is a group of organisations calling for sustained cycling infrastructure investment across Birmingham in order for their employees, customers and students to travel safely throughout the city. These organisations also actively encourage and support cycling as a sustainable means of transport.
24 cross sector businesses signed up to Cycling Works for Birmingham
www.cyclingworksbirmingham.co.uk Cycling Works is a brilliant way for you to add your voice to the many others calling for more safe cycling infrastructure in the West Midlands. As a civic leader, your support as individuals and employers really helps me to make the case for more investment in safe infrastructure… Together we can make Birmingham and the West Midlands a healthy and green place to live, but only if we take brave decisions and invest in sustainable transport.”
Lisa, Cycle South Brum’s Projects Assistant was selected as one of Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling 2019 for her tireless work encouraging cycling in the city.
— Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands
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WORKING ACROSS THE CITY Our work continues to grow across the city. The map shows locations of our varied projects over the year. As a team, we contributed 311 hours to 38 different events promoting and discussing sustainable living to 3,040 people. This year we undertook an exercise to measure the wider social impact of our activities and how we operate. This includes supporting local, independent small businesses, paying the living wage, promoting a circular economy, providing opportunities for those of all ages and abilities to develop skills, how our work impacts upon communities from environmental, economic and health perspectives, creating meaningful internships and work placements and investing in our staff and volunteers.
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We are proud that for every ÂŁ1 of income we deliver ÂŁ6.53 of social value.
19 11
26
14
27
9 13 8 17
7 7
22
10
25
18
ecobirmingham
REFILL BIRMINGHAM 1
New Street Station
2
Green Lane Masjid
3
Grand Central
4
Simmer Down Festival
5
Saint Paul’s Square
6
Perry Barr
CYCLING ACTIVITIES
5 20
1
24
3
16
2
23
12 10 21
15
7
Allens Cross Community Garden
8
Victoria Common
9
Artefact
10
The MIX
11
Port Loop
12
Edgbaston Community Centre
13
Rowheath Pavillion
14
Lapworth Museum of Geology
15
Midlands Arts Centre
16
Victoria Square
FOOD GROWING ACTIVITIES 17
Allens Cross Community Garden
FOREST SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 18
Masefield Community Garden
19
Deer's Leap Wood Nature Reserve
SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 20
Council House
21
Anawim Women Working Together
22
Fox Hollow Close
23
Oasis Academy Hobmoor
24
Impact Hub Birmingham
25
ExtraCare Longbridge Retirement Village
26
St. George’s School
27
King Edward VI Five Ways School
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REFILL BIRMINGHAM For a second year, we were the local champion for the Refill campaign, a national initiative to reduce plastic consumption by making it easy to fill up your water bottle while out and about. For World Environment Day in June we supported the national Refill team outside Birmingham New Street Station using interactive digital displays on the giant Media Eyes. It encouraged the general public to sign up to the free Refill app telling you which local businesses have signed up to the initiative. Later in the month on National Refill Day, we also promoted Refill to morning commuters at New Street Station, handing out leaflets and giving advice. After talking with the community of Green Lane Masjid in Small Heath about going green for Ramadan, they decided to go plastic free, install water fountains and provide large water jugs around the mosque. In the past, they distributed 1000s of single-use plastic bottles every evening of Ramadan (3,500-5,000 worshipers are welcomed every night). They had to hire skips every few days through the month just to dispose of plastic waste. To date they have sold over 1,300 reusable bottles and reduced their waste by over 40,000 single-use plastic bottles. People were still able to distribute water but, by thinking differently and working together creatively, the community helped make a massive contribution to protecting the environment.
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If every Brummie refilled a water bottle once a week instead of buying a new single-use plastic one, the city would reduce its waste plastic bottle consumption by 22.3 million a year.�
+59 At the end of March 2020 there were 274 water Refill Stations across Birmingham, an increase of 59 over 12 months, helping to reduce the city’s impact on the planet.
40k Green Lane Masjid avoided 40,000 single-use plastic bottles sent to landfill over Ramadan. 13
GREENER BIRMINGHAM ecobirmingham remains the Chair of the Greener Birmingham Coalition, a group of environmental organisations collaborating across the city to create spaces for wildlife and people, advocate for environmental change at a strategic and political level in the city and act as a collective voice for environmental concerns of citizens. In early 2019 we launched The Big Green Conversation, a city-wide survey asking the people of Birmingham what the priorities should be for business and Birmingham City Council for improving the natural environment, as well as the actions they would personally take to make the city a greener and healthier place to live. In November, the coalition launched A People’s Manifesto for Birmingham, the results of the Big Green Conversation, at Impact Hub Birmingham which was attended by a breadth of influencers across the city. This work is helping us to develop new projects and influence decision makers at a city and regional level. www.greenerbirmingham.com We remain actively committed to taking a lead in how the city can act more sustainably, supporting Birmingham City Council and the Route to Zero Taskforce to take practical action after declaring a climate emergency. 
88% believe Birmingham City Council should prioritise the environment over the next 5 years.
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87% believe the Council should ban single-use plastic in the next 5 years.
76% think local businesses should support the Council in adopting green policies.
72% think local businesses should manage their land to benefit nature.
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MOVE MORE, EAT WELL For a third and final year, ecobirmingham, in partnership with Sport Birmingham, Garden Organic, Sustrans West Midlands and Health Education Service, delivered Move More Eat Well, a programme to promote behaviour change and help the residents of Northfield, Longbridge, Cofton and Rubery to become healthier via sustainable travel, food growing and healthy eating. ecobirmingham’s activity included: § Ride Active led cycle rides in partnership with British Cycling § Cycle tuition for children and adults § Bike maintenance for children and adults § Community cooking and healthy eating sessions § Community growing sessions The production of a cookbook sharing simple and healthy recipes for all the family. Download the book here: http://bit.ly/MMEWRecipeBook2019 The final report can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/MMEWFinal
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ALLENS CROSS COMMUNITY GARDEN This year also saw the end of a 5 year partnership with Allens Cross Community Association which has seen the transformation of a disused play area into a popular and well-used community garden in Northfield. As well as twice-weekly gardening sessions, they have held seasonal events, workshops and was invited to exhibit for a second year as part of the ‘Eco Green and Growing’ section at the RHS Malvern Spring Show. The garden was also awarded a Level 5 Outstanding Award by RHS Britain in Bloom, It’s Your Neighbourhood. It will continue to work with the community under the leadership of Allens Cross Community Association. We are committed to create long-term viable projects, and are delighted that this successful community garden will continue and be cherished by the local community. The best part of the Malvern Spring Show, for me, was Allens Cross Community Garden’s hanging bra-skets.” — Gardeners World presenter Carol Klein.
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LOOKING FORWARD Future plans include: ยง Secret Birmingham, a digital resource developed with C&T Theatre allowing users to take a guided bike ride to discover heritage gems whilst discovering cycle routes across the city. ยง School of Green Living - an education programme bringing communities together by helping them live more sustainability. ยง Working with businesses across the city to become more sustainable through our Dust Off Your Bike and Ditch the Desk schemes. ยง In response to the pandemic, develop more of an online presence, work more hyper-locally and help to tackle food and fuel poverty in the city. ยง Expand the Refill scheme across the city, reducing the amount of single-use plastic the city consumes.
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GET INVOLVED Together we can make Birmingham a greener and healthier place to live. There are many ways you can help us grow and deliver our projects. By volunteering, becoming a friend, supporting us with a donation, booking us for a training session, or joining us as a member of staff, intern or on a work placement, you will be helping us carry out important work in the city and become part of a passionate and committed team. Donations from people like you are essential to ensure we can continue our important work across the city: § £5 a month could help us run a cycle route-finding session to get more people in the city out of their cars and on their bikes. § £10 a month could enable us to run outdoor education sessions which encourage children to value the natural environment. § £25 a month could help us work with a community particularly impacted by the pandemic to return stronger and more sustainably. If you would like to talk about working together, please contact us. Our door is always open. Find out more, and how you can donate via www.ecobirmingham.com
I was encouraged to find out more about all the projects...to take part in community consultations outside of the office, and spend a day or two in the community garden... I felt I had a great amount of freedom to tailor my internship to whatever I wanted it to be and try as many things out as possible.” It has shown me examples of the sort of jobs I could have when I graduate and also helped me see that I am able to do actual, not just university, work.” — ecobirmingham interns, 2020
Impact report designed by Birmingham-based graphic designer Kerry Leslie. Passionate about growing communities as well as on her allotment! Sustainability is at the heart of every project she takes on.
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0121 448 0119 info@ecobirmingham.com
www.ecobirmingham.com @ecobirmingham 20