It's Official - Building Self-Belief are Investors in the Environment!
The environment has always been one of our key areas of Building Self-Belief's charitable work - from the development of gardens, to the use of open air spaces to improve mental health, to our visit to Glasgow for COP26 to encourage young people to take an interest in policy.
Therefore, Building Self-Belief is absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Investors in the Environment Bronze Award. There is a great deal of 'talk' about green initiatives, but to achieve this award, you have to implement the policies, not just write them. We now have our Travel Policy, our Waste Management Policy and our Environmental Policy. We have also incorporated our approach to green initiatives into our induction process for trustees, staff and volunteers.
Our Green Champion
Our Apprentice Shauna Nixon is our official 'Green Champion. Shauna completed a great deal of the training and tasks, she also collated the necessary information. Shauna will be continuing in this role, and we are looking forward to continuing with our green initiatives.
Highlights from the Accreditation Report
"Building Self Belief is committed to integrating young people within their community and frequently this is via environmental projects, such as their Tow Law Eco-Youth Ambassadors’ project in County Durham, and their restoration of Benfieldside Community Garden to use as a community space. Building Self Belief have a great buy-in from colleagues across the organisation, from Management to Volunteers, to develop their environmental management system. They have made good headway with promoting sustainable travel within their organisation, and going forward, this can be developed into a formal sustainable travel plan.
Highlights
• Excellent use of projects to support community, wellbeing and environmental efforts.
• Environmental Policy identifies the environmental champion and commits to reducing environmental impacts and legal compliance, with Net Zero commitment outlined.
• Strong communication channels, through their website, social media and use of notice boards.
• Colleagues from across the organisations involved in the process, with trustees being regularly updated in meetings, and staff and volunteers receiving information through induction process."
Thank you
Can we thank both the County Durham Community Foundation and Durham Community Action because they signpost us to key initiatives and they also provide links funding, and/or the funding itself that support us in our work in this area. Can we also than Jo Holmes of Gennee Consultancy who has supported us throughout the process in achieving the Bronze Award. We are looking forward to the future plans and making even more positive changes in how we approach and implement green strategies.
Youth Social Action / November 12th, 2021
Aspirations and Future Planning / November 12th, 2021
Benfieldside Community Garden / November 12th, 2021
Time to Break the Cycle? #COP26
It was a real privilege for me to be Chair of the Eco debate ‘Going in Circles’ organised by Engineering Today and After the Pandemic. Here is a brief overview of our discussion, as well as our suggestions about how we can move forward.
Aspirations and Future Planning / November 18th, 2019
What is ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR)?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR), sometimes known as ‘corporate conscience’ or ‘corporate citizenship’, is about companies playing a responsible role in the wider community. Haines Watts have developed some brilliant ways for them to enhance and develop their CRS and we are very lucky to be their nominated charity.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / June 17th, 2018
Improving the Self-Belief of Teenage Girls
Our film documents and explains the impact of our Building Self-Belief programme with Year 9 Girls at Consett Academy, County Durham. The programme helps the young people to grow in confidence and encourages them to be more aspirational about their future careers. It was a privilege to work with them.