Sustainable Development

The Calthorpe Project - A garden of solidarity in London (London - UK)

Twenty years ago, in a working neighbourhood in the heart of London, The Calthorpe Project turned an abandoned lot into a public garden. Since then, it has developed a wide range of local services for area residents, most of whom are immigrant families. To illustrate, part of the garden is set aside as a vegetable garden where children can learn about the environment. Another example is the free day-care centre, open every day. Lastly, the association offers school tutoring, sporting activities and English classes for adults.

- Our support: €30,000  (outfitting a new building for the day-care centre).
- Sponsors: Steven Saint John, General Manager Group Services, Ringway (Eurovia), and Chris Edwards, engineer at Ringway, provide material assistance to the association. Each year, groups of volunteers from Ringway dedicate one day to garden upkeep.

Ascend – Supporting vocational integration (Hertfordshire - UK)

Created in 1996, Ascend promotes the social and vocational integration of residents of South Oxhey. The community, built after the war to rehouse victims of the bombing of London, has numerous social and economic problems. The organisation’s five permanent employees and numerous volunteers help young people on the streets locate housing. In addition they offer employment workshops and training sessions to help excluded people find work.

- Our support: €15,000 (assistance for recruiting a new employee).
- Sponsors: Colin Jellicoe, human resources director at VINCI PLC (VINCI Construction), participates in the organisation’s employment club. Melanie Mathews, public relations manager at VINCI PLC, is organising the firm’s hiring of a person assisted by Ascend.

Community Links – Preparing for the future (London - UK)

Spearheading efforts to improve the daily life of residents and preparing for their future: the activists who created Community Links in a disadvantaged London neighbourhood thirty years ago have remained faithful to this mission. Family social guidance centre, children’s sports club, delinquency prevention in neighbourhood streets, training centre for jobseekers…through many such projects that are deeply rooted in the community, the organisation touches 50,000 people each year and is recognised by public officials as a key player in the fight against exclusion.

- Grant: €15,000 (joint financing of a new training programme for young people seeking to become qualified as activity leaders working with children).
- Sponsors: Karen Bamber, human resources manager at VINCI PLC (VINCI Construction), participates in job search workshops organised by Community Links. Phil Bean, regional director at Norwest Holst (VINCI Construction), offers internships and positions at his worksites to people assisted by the organisation.