Every action counts - miliband urges green effort from voluntary groups

Grassroots efforts to protect the environment and combat climate change were boosted today with the launch of a new government initiative enlisting the special support of voluntary and community groups.

Environment Secretary David Miliband today launched the three-year scheme, Every Action Counts , designed to help community groups, clubs and societies across England get involved in simple environment-friendly actions which can make a big difference.

Mr Miliband said:

“Every community group big and small, rural and urban, can do something to make a difference. Every Action Counts will help unlock the potential of local groups and clubs across the country to encourage more people to join in and help to meet the big environmental challenges all of us face.“

Every Action Counts will help community groups, clubs and societies to take simple everyday action on the environment. These could include fitting energy-saving light bulbs in community meeting rooms, appointing an energy champion to monitor bills, car-sharing to club events and collecting paper or cans from group members to recycle together.

The initiative will offer direct support to these local community groups. More than 1,000 Every Action Counts Community Champions will provide advice and expertise, and new community action packs will be made available to help clubs and groups action simple but effective initiatives such as saving water in community buildings or creating wildlife havens on club grounds.

Every Action Counts is backed by national voluntary organisations representing thousands of local community groups, including the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres, the Community Development Foundation, the Urban Forum, Federation of City Farms and Gardens, and conservation charity BTCV.

Mr Miliband added:

"The voluntary and community sector has a critical role to play on environmental sustainability, employing more than half of all community workers who in turn support thousands of local groups across the country. The voluntary sector can help these groups take action on the environment as well as lead by example, showing local groups how it is putting environmental sustainability into practice.”

Ian Pearson, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, said:

“Every Action Counts will help local groups, clubs and voluntary organisations play a big part in tackling climate change, saving energy and saving water. This not only makes sense for the environment but can help local groups and clubs cut their bills and raise their profile in their communities. It is all part of the government's aim to empower people to take a lead on issues that matter to our quality of life.“

Every Action Counts will help voluntary organisations set out their overall contribution to national targets on climate change, sustainable procurement and other environmental sustainability issues. It should deliver:

•  More than 500 individual sustainable development action plans prepared by key Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations nationally, regionally and locally

•  100 staff from VCS organisations trained to put environmental sustainability into practice

•  More than 800 community workers trained to make the links between environmental sustainability and their existing work with community groups

•  New good practice guides prepared for VCS bodies, covering issues such as sustainable procurement and green office management

Alison Seabrooke, Co-Chief Executive of the Community Development Foundation, said:

"On behalf of all the voluntary and community organisations involved, we are delighted to be playing such a big part in Every Action Counts. Voluntary and community sector organisations have traditionally been at the forefront of a drive for greater social justice in communities. This initiative will help a wide range of voluntary and community sector networks to make a big contribution to national targets on environmental sustainability and to put this at the heart of all our work with communities."

For more information go to www.everyactioncounts.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Government's “Together we can” action plan sets out the way in which Government and citizens will work together to make life better. For more information go to http://civilrenewal.communities.gov.uk/civil/together-we-can/

In 2005 half of all people in England (20.4 million) volunteered formally or informally at least once a month - an increase of 9% on 2001 (18.8 million people). Forty-four per cent of people had volunteered formally once in the 12 months before they were interviewed, through groups, clubs or organizations, to benefit other people or the environment. This shows a significant increase from 39 per cent in 2001. (Early results of Citizenship survey, Home Office 2005).

Every Action Counts initiative marks a new strategic agreement between six national voluntary and community sector umbrella organisations who have teamed-up to deliver the initiative across England, backed by 16 others who all want to make a bigger tangible contribution to environmental sustainability in their own work. Together these organisations account for around 2,000 local and regional community organisations and thousands more local community groups. It is expected that more national VCS organisations will come on board.

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