Going Green in Cranhill

CRANHILL in Glasgow is going GREEN thanks to a pioneering eco project designed to help local people.

The initiative known as URBAN GREEN aims to encourage residents in this community in the north east of the city to give growing their own food a go AND learn more about saving energy.

The project, led by housing provider Thenue Housing in partnership with community arts charity Impact Arts, is being funded thanks to £150,000 from the Scottish Government’s “Climate Challenge Fund” and will last until next Spring.

The Project is the first of its kind in Cranhill and has three key objectives :

*To encourage community food growing in gardens based on advice supplied by specially-recruited local volunteers
*To deliver energy advice and help gain access to energy saving grants
*To provide Arts Workshops for adults and kids with a climate change theme

The overall aim is to deliver a community project to help this community and engage residents in understanding more about climate change.

It will even encourage residents to grow their own food in their own gardens if they so wish.

Additional funding has been obtained from Inspiring Scotland via Impact Arts (Projects) Ltd – a partner in the project which is a charity and social enterprise and Glasgow Housing Association. Community organisations the Cranhill Development Trust, Cranhill Area Association and Cranhill Arts Project are also key partners in the initiative.

Lawrence McCabe, Community Regeneration Manager at Thenue Housing explained: “The community food growing initiative will transform the garden at Cranhill Development Trust allowing local residents to get involved in growing their own food as well as providing support for those who want to grow food in their own gardens.

“A dedicated Energy Efficiency and Environmental Advisor is now assisting local people in reducing their energy bills and crucially, accessing grants which can help this energy efficiency.

“There will be opportunities for the whole community to get involved and have fun while helping to reduce their carbon emissions. It is also helping nine Cranhill young people who have been recruited by Urban Green by enhancing their skills and improving their chances of employability.

Thenue Housing said the Project was further evidence of its commitment to helping communities where it has homes as part of its community regeneration strategy.

Newly appointed Energy Efficiency Advisor Ruskin Gammon has now started work in the community and will shortly embark on a series of visits to local residents.

Thenue Housing is no stranger to helping people save money on their fuel bills. In 2012 it ran a project known as BEEP – the Bridgeton Energy Efficiency Project – helping families in the east end of the city to save money on heating bills and reduce their carbon footprint at a time of soaring energy bills. BEEP was widely regarded as a huge success with helpful advice delivered at so-called “draught-busting” workshops.

Charlie Turner, Chief Executive of Thenue added: “Urban Green Cranhill is a good example of a locally-delivered community initiative where people can really get involved. Growing your own food has the benefit of bringing people together and receiving energy advice from the project is always valuable especially at a time when fuel bills remain high. Thenue Housing is very pleased to be making a difference in Cranhill.”