The Botanical Gardens Education Network (bgen) are running a training course Communicating Horticulture; how to teach essential skills and build capacity on Tuesday 14th May 2013 at Durham University Botanic Garden. Part of a series of courses designed to give people basic horticultural skills and the confidence to start off in horticulture, and give you the skills for demonstrating practical techniques and helping people to plan their own garden. For more details contact B.Murphy@kew.org or Tel: 0208 332 3823 / 07530 893902
Are you interested in helping in the strategic management of one of Wales’ superb national parks?
The Welsh Government is looking to appoint 2 new members to the Snowdonia National Park Authority.
Role of members is to provide effective leadership for the Park Authority, to help develop its strategic plans for the future and to ensure that the Snowdonia Park Authority’s main business is handled efficiently and effectively.
Experience/qualities sought
To succeed in this role it is important that you understand the statutory purposes for which the National Parks were designated and you will need to be able to bring a national perspective to the work of the Park Authority. You will need to have experience of public administration, and/or knowledge in an area of direct relevance to the needs of the Snowdonia National Park: such as conservation of the natural, historic and cultural environment; architecture; outdoor recreation; community activities; renewable energy; recycling and farming. We are particularly looking for experience in planning; tourism; transport or forestry. You should also be able to demonstrate an awareness of the interests of all those who live, work in, or who visit the Park.
You also need to be able to commit a minimum of at least four days per month to Snowdonia Park Authority business (attendance at key meetings, etc).
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable, but not essential.
Remuneration
Members will receive a basic salary of £3,550 per annum, as well as reasonable expenses.
Appointments
One appointment will commence on the 1 August 2013 and the other on 1 February 2014, and both will be for a maximum of four years.
For further details and to apply go to http://wales.gov.uk/publicappointments or for queries contact the HR Helpdesk on 029 2082 5454 or email hr-helpdesk@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Latest Grants News
Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust The AFMT funds projects that give disadvantaged young people the chance to develop an existing interest in the great outdoors.
For further information: Click Here
Breaks 4 Kids (England and Wales) Breaks 4 Kids is a charitable fund, run by YHA (Youth Hostel Association) that supports under-privileged young people under the age of 18, travelling as part of an organised group such as; school class, youth club, church group, or a group organised by a body such as the Youth Offending Group or Connexions.
For further information: Click Here
£30m funding for local communities The £19m Community Ownership of Assets programme offers grants to communities wanting to take control of a local asset such as a pub, shop, or library. The Community Right to Bid will help local groups to do this, and comes into force in the autumn.
The Community Right to Challenge (which became law last week) has £11m of grants available to communities with ideas about how they can run a local service.
The grants programme is provided by the Social Investment Business. The Right to Challenge grants will launch on 16 July - you should register your interest through the My Community Rights support service.
BEN’s work recognised by UNESCO award
BEN has been awarded the UNESCO UK Man and the Biosphere Urban Wildlife Award for Excellence.
The citation says "The Award is given to BEN for being a flagship project for pioneering and establishing ethnic environmental participation in the UK".
The Award’s assessment states “Over 25 years, Black Environment Network has undertaken a programme of projects that pioneered and established contact with nature between ethnic minorities and wildlife across the UK”
Everyone at BEN are delighted and honoured to receive this recognition for our work, under the direction of our former director and now president, Judy Ling Wong.
To see the full assessment go to http://www.ben-network.org.uk/doing/eng.asp