Skelton Grange Environment Centre July 2013

Skelton Grange Environment Centre as part of The Conservation Volunteers The charity operates throughout the UK and abroad, and exists to help people’s lives, prospects and communities through reclaiming green places together. Skelton Grange is one of TCV’s flagship ‘green hubs’, where we have developed ten acres of land adjacent to the National Grid substation for wildlife and the community. Over 6000 people visit the site each year for learning, volunteering, health and play.

Skelton Grange centre team Staff 1.8 FTE management Caroline 4 days, Helen 3 days, Lucy 2 days 1.8 FTE project officers Toby site 5 days, Chris education 4 days 0.8 FTE administrator Ralph 4 days & 1 FTE site & building staff Lee 5 days Volunteer Team Usually 5 or 6 volunteer officers supporting us 2-4 days a week

Achievements and challenges in the last two years: £0.3 million Access to Nature lottery funding which has to date reached over 25,000 people, a third of whom have come from the 10% most socially and economically disadvantaged areas of England Secured almost £50K landfill and lottery money using National Grid site maintenance as leverage to support biodiversity and access work on site and renewed the site’s Green Flag status Two years of real and tough transition for the wider organisation. Our traditional income base has both reduced and radically changed in structure, particularly in government funding and increased competition in other areas. We have had to make some incredibly difficult decisions about our cost base and structure to reflect the much tougher economic environment. A clarified and refreshed brand as the Conservation Volunteers and new skills in business development, retail and broader fundraising.

Looking forwards: The Conservation Volunteers has just launched new Strategic Business Action Plan, which is being currently rolled out. There are six key goals and all staff will have corresponding performance management plans by the end of this month. Locally at Skelton Grange our priorities are to: fundraise to replace the Access to Nature project, which has had excellent outcomes for both communities and the environment build partnerships with a range of local organisations to pool resources and expertise investigate alternative funding models