[2]NewsCommunity Land Bank update
The Government has officially announced plans to help local people grow their own food, by working with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) on creating a Community Land Bank.
Communities Secretary John Denham and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn made the announcement as part of the Government’s Food 2030 strategy. If successful, the Community Land Bank could help tackle the rapid rise in demand for land for local food growing, which has put existing allotments under severe strain.
The Community Land Bank, which would act as an independent, not-for-profit agency, would support access to unused land for either temporary or long term gardening use.
FCFCG is now engaged in exploratory discussions to pilot Community Land Bank schemes in several local authority areas. This work has been backed with funding by the Government. Local private and public sector landowners (which could include councils, NHS and private developers) will be asked to work with the Federation to identify possible sites and link them up with community groups looking for land. The scheme would offer support and advice to landowners and tenants over the purchase, sale or leasing of land.
Green Pennant Awards
The Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary and community groups. The Award is part of the Green Flag Award scheme, the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.
Entries for the Green Pennant Award are now open to parks and green spaces located in England and Wales. There are also pilot schemes in Scotland, Northern Ireland.
All community green spaces are eligible to enter, as long as they are freely accessible to all and unlocked as much as possible although we understand this may not be every day.Community Assets Survey
City Farms and Community Gardens are being encouraged to complete an online survey examining community ownership and management of assets, which include buildings, land, financial assets and energy generation facilities.
The survey is part of a research project being run by Institute for Voluntary Action Research (an independent charitable research institute) and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The assets might be owned by voluntary and community organisations, charities, community interest companies, co-operatives or other mutual organisations. Researchers are interested in hearing from organisations across the UK.Future Jobs Fund
The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is hoping its members can provide jobs that will benefit the local community, as part of the biggest employment programme for a generation.
The Future Jobs Fund, instigated by the Government, aims to create 150,000 new jobs in the next two years. The Fund is aimed at long term unemployed young adults, particularly from disadvantaged areas where many of our member groups are based.
In England, FCFCG has joined a new voluntary sector management company, 3SC, which has the biggest bid in country (3000 jobs by March 2010). We have committed to creating real jobs, via our community farm and garden members, that are additional and will benefit the community. In Scotland and Wales, FCFCG is signposting members to the organisation administering the scheme in those countries.
Green-fingered scheme for growers
Volunteers on city farms and community gardens who want to build a career working in horticulture are being encouraged to take part in an apprenticeship scheme. A £1 million fund created by the Department of Communities and Local Government aims to recruit a new generation of green-fingered apprentices to keep England's parks and green spaces growing. Budding horticulturalists of all ages are being encouraged to apply for a traineeship scheme that will offer them the opportunity to improve their skills and make sure our towns and cities stay green.
FCFCG London map relaunched
The colourful publication gives information on 50 community-led projects, which bring great benefits to local residents and the environment. The farms and gardens featured can be visited by the public and create areas of natural space within London’s urban environment. They also help children to learn more about where their food comes from.
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